Effect of service and collaborative learning strategies on students’ environmental knowledge in selected junior secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria
- Authors: Alalade, Olufiropo Emmanuel
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Service learning Environmental management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16602 , vital:40736
- Description: Though many strategies have helped in increasing students’ knowledge and awareness about environmental issues, yet, environmental challenges and problems are still on the increase in Nigeria. This may be due to the fact that environmental issues are controversial and require collaborative efforts of all citizens, especially school students. This study determined the effects of service learning and collaborative learning in social studies on Junior Secondary School students’ environmental literacy. It also explored the moderating effects of school location and gender. The study adopted a pretest-posttest, control group, quasiexperimental design. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed. Six (6) secondary schools that are co-educational from Ibadan were purposively selected based on presence of environmental challenges in their immediate environment. There were three (3) schools from Ibadan city (urban area of Ibadan) and three (3) from Ibadan less city (rural area of Ibadan). Seven hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Five research instruments were used for the study, these were; Environmental Knowledge Test (EKT, r = 0.76), Environmental Attitude Questionnaire (EAQ, r = 0.85), Service Learning Guide (SLG, r = 0.71), Collaborative Learning Guide (CLG, r = 0.66) and Conventional Learning Guide (CLG, r = 0.73). Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used in testing the seven formulated hypotheses. Scheffé Post-hoc analysis was carried out to determine the source of significant effect of treatment. Significant interaction effect was described using graphical representation. All hypotheses were tested at P< .05 level of significance. The results revealed that there was a significant main effect of treatment (service and collaborative learning strategies) on junior secondary school students’ environmental knowledge (F(2,582) = 824.98; p<0.05, partial η2 = 0.739), with an effect of 73.9%. There was also a significant main effect of treatment (service and collaborative learning strategies) on junior secondary school students’ environmental attitude (F(2,582) = 1317.79; p<0.05, partial η2 = 0.819). The findings showed that there was a significant main effect of gender (male/female) on junior secondary school students’ environmental knowledge (F(1,582) = 3.99; p<0.05, v partial η2 = 0.007) but there was no significant main effect of school location (urban/rural) on junior secondary school students’ environmental knowledge (F(1,582) = 0.08; p>.05, partial η2 = 0.00). Based on these findings, it was recommended that teachers should adopt service learning and collaborative learning strategies in the teaching of environmental concepts and problems in Social Studies in order to improve students’ performance in Social Studies. Teachers should facilitate the use of service learning and collaborative learning strategies in schools to improve students’ environmental problem-solving skills and their achievement in the subject. Teaching institutions should not only include service learning and collaborative learning strategies in their curriculum but should endeavour to provide practical experience for pre-service teachers to be well grounded and equipped on the use of these strategies.
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Effect of social capital and information acquisition on the adoption and benefits of conservation agriculture among cassava and maize smallholder farmers in South-West Nigeria
- Authors: Olawuyi, Seyi Olalekan
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Agricultural conservation , Sustainable agriculture , Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15200 , vital:40200
- Description: Sustainable economic growth and development in developing economy like Nigeria is achievable through the agricultural sector and sub-sectors which are concentrated in rural areas. Rural areas represent a home to majority (about 75%) of the households practicing farming for family sustenance and/or to earn income from the sales of agricultural products (Oyakhilomen and Zibah, 2014). In addition to the persistent use of traditional farming practices, these rural farming households cultivate crops varieties that are low-yielding on small and scattered farmland holdings (smallholder farmers) (Oyakhilomen and Zibah, 2014). This act depletes the soil organic matter with devastating consequences on production output, income generation as well as the ecosystem. Similarly, non-access to agricultural credit and limited technical knowhow are parts of the challenges that are facing the development of farming activities in subSaharan Africa, including Nigeria (Kassie, Pender, Yesuf, Köhlin, Bluffstone and Mulugeta, 2008). These challenges call for holistic interventions such as conservative agricultural practices; which are sustainable, promote safe environment and ultimately increase production output.
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Effects of pre-slaughter stress, sex and breed on blood stress indicators, heat shock proteins, glycolytic potential and lamb quality
- Authors: Stempa, Thuthuzelwa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Animal welfare , Meat--Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15376 , vital:40402
- Description: The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of pre-slaughter stress (transportation distance and lairage duration), sex and breed on blood stress indicators, heat shock proteins, post-mortem muscle metabolites (glycogen, glucose, glucose-6-phosphate and lactate), glycolytic potential and meat quality attributes from lambs slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. The study was conducted in a high-throughput commercial abattoir in the Buffalo City local municipality of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of a hundred eight-month old Dorper and Merino lambs, both male and female, were used in the study. Blood samples for the analysis of glucose and lactate levels were collected using 10.0 mL disposable Becton Dickinson vacutainer tubes treated with fluoride oxalate (grey top) whereas those for determination of cortisol and heat shock protein 70 (HSPA1A) levels were collected using plasma separating vacutainer tubes (SSTTMII, gold top), and those for analysis of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were collected using 10.0 ml vacutainer tubes treated with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Meat samples (~50 g) for the measurement of post-mortem energy metabolites (glycogen, lactate glucose-6-phosphate and glucose content) were collected from the Muscularis longimissius thoracis et lumborum (LTL) of each carcass ~30 minutes after slaughter and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen (-196 oC) to prevent further glycolysis. Cold carcass weight (CCW), warm carcass weight (WCW) and carcass fatness (CF) was measured. Meat pH and temperature were measured at iii 45 minutes (initial pH), 6 hours and 24 hours ultimate pH (pHu) post-mortem. Meat colour coordinates [lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), hue angle (H*), chroma (C*)] were also measured 24 hours after slaughter. Furthermore, thawing loss (TL%), cooking loss (CL%) and warner braztler shear force (WBSF) was measured in the LTL 7 days post slaughter. Breed had a significant effect on plasma HSPA1A, plasma lactate, WCW, CCW, L*, muscle glycogen and WBSF. Sex had a significant effect on plasma HSPA1A and pHu. Pearson‘s correlations showed that meat muscle glycogen was positively correlated to glycolytic potential (P<0.001; r=0.63) and initial pH (P<0.05, r=0.20). Muscle lactate was positively correlated to muscle glucose (P<0.01, r=0.30) and glycolytic potential (P<0.001, r=0.79). A positive correlation was shown between muscle glucose and glycolytic potential (P<0.05, r=0.23). The level of LDH was affected by the distance travelled by lambs prior to slaughter. Lairage duration did not affect the levels of CK and LDH. Principal Component Analysis showed a relationship between distance travelled and CK and LDH; and that CK and LDH also influenced the quality of meat from lambs. With respect to sex and breed, the results indicate that female and Dorper were more stressed than male and Merino respectively. Muscle glycolytic potential and post-mortem metabolites have an impact on the quality of meat produced and the Merino had higher muscle glycogen levels at slaughter; hence they produced better meat quality compared to the Dorper. Moreover, no associations were seen between pHu and blood stress indicators. These results indicate that blood stress indicators at exsanguination cannot be used as useful indicators of dark cutting condition in lamb. A relationship between pHu, muscle glycogen and glycolytic potential was established and thus meat pHu can be used as a reliable indicator of tenderness in lamb.
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Efficacy, acceptability and feasibility of mhealth technology in promoting adherence to anti-diabetic therapy and glycaemic control among diabetic patients in Eastern Cape, South Africa”
- Authors: Owolabi, Eyitayo Omolara
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Diabetes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Nursing)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16792 , vital:40774
- Description: Background: Diabetes mellitus is a disease of a significant public health concern and a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In Africa, South Africa ranks second among countries with the highest burden of diabetes, and with a poor level of glycaemic control. mHealth technology is an innovative and cost-effective measure of promoting health and the use of text messaging for fostering health is evolving. In South Africa, there is hardly any study involving the use of mobile health technology, including text messaging for promoting health among diabetic patients. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of mHealth in promoting adherence and glycaemic control among diabetic patients in resource-poor settings of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Also, the study assessed the impact of text messaging on knowledge, selfmanagement behaviour, self-efficacy and health-related quality of life. Methodology: The study adopted a multi-centre, two-arm, parallel, randomised controlled trial design. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=108) and control arm (n=108). Participants’ socio-demographic information was obtained using the widely validated WHO STEPwise questionnaire, and a selfdeveloped questionnaire, including previously validated measurement scales were used to obtain information on adherence, self-management behaviour, self-efficacy and health-related quality of life. Participants in the intervention arm received daily text messages related to diabetes management and care for six months. Data were collected at baseline and six months post-intervention. Blood glucose, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements followed standard procedure. Mixed-model analysis was used to assess the impact of the SMS on random blood glucose while xi | P a g e linear and bivariate logistic regression were used to assess for effect on other clinical outcomes. Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.64 (SD± 11.58) years. The majority of the study participants had secondary level of education (95.3%) and earned 1500 to 14200 Rand per month (67.7%). For both the intervention and the control group, majority never used tobacco (98.10% vs 94.40%) or alcohol (88.00% vs 87.00%). Both arms of the study showed improvement in the primary outcome (blood glucose level), with no significant difference, the mean adjusted difference in blood glucose from baseline to six months post-intervention was 0.26 (-0.81 to 1.32), p=0.634. Also, the intervention did not have a significant effect on the secondary outcomes (knowledge, medication adherence, dietary adherence, adherence to physical activity, healthrelated quality of life, self-management behaviour and diabetes distress). Similarly, the intervention did not have any significant effect on secondary clinical outcomes such as weight (p=0.654), body mass index (p=0.439), systolic (p=0.610) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.535). An overwhelming majority of the participants (90.74%) were pleased with the intervention and felt it was helpful. Of those who took part in the intervention, 91% completed the follow-up study after six months. Conclusion: The use of SMS is a highly acceptable and feasible adjunct to standard clinical care in the promotion of health among diabetic patients in this study setting. Although there was a little improvement, the efficacy of a unidirectional text messaging in promoting health outcomes in this study setting is still doubt
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Electrical, photo-thermal and mechanical degradation analysis of degraded single junction amorphous silicon solar modules
- Authors: Osayemwenre, Gilbert Omorodion
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Solar cells Amorphous semiconductors Silicon
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15211 , vital:40204
- Description: In this present era of sustainable energy development, photovoltaic modules which are based on amorphous silicon cells have immeasurable prospects of contributing meaningfully to the energy demand of the world at large. The global consciousness of environmental safety issues has birthed the rapid demand for the photovoltaic system. However, the production increase is mainly in bulk-type crystalline (c-Si) solar cells. Thus, to meet the high demand of the market, single junction amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells production must be encouraged through active research in that regard. This could also help to improve its efficiency and reliability. There has recently been a sharp decrease in the production cost of the bulk Si solar cell, but the a-Si:H solar cell still remains the most economically viable in comparison to the other PV technologies. Companies such as Sharp are currently developing large-scale a-Si:H solar modules that can produce an efficiency of 10.5% after the long-term degradation process. To date, a-Si:H is believed to be one of the most promising thin-film PV technologies (Saito et al., 1993; Hamakawa et al., 1994). The cost of a solar PV manufacturing fell by 6% in 2014 (Santa, 2014), this is in accordance with the 2008 cost production forecast; thus, the cost record stands at 0.20 per watt, as reported by the NPD Solar publisher. Amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar modules generate more kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity per kilowatt (kW) than crystalline silicon or other technologies of the same capacity of installation. Furthermore, a-Si:H modules have more functional hours per day. Single junction amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) modules can function beyond the peak sun hours, and they also have a better performance on a cloudy day. vii In other words, a 1kW PV system of a-Si:H is expected to generate more electricity per year in comparison to 1kW PV from other technologies, hence there is a low energy payback time. In this study, commercially available single junction amorphous silicon modules were bought from a local market and they were immediately deployed outdoors. The initial reading of the modules, which served as baseline reading, showed an average of 25% decrease in the modules performance, therefore, there is a need for a long term monitoring process to obtain the best and worst performing modules. Measuring the performance parameters of these PV modules under real sun light (IV) provides a better degradation assessment. This conventional assessment cannot provide an in-depth insight responsible for the variation and degradation of the performance parameters. More obscured parameters like recombination current and ideality factor were obtained from the dark IV measurements. However, this is still superficial in a way. The intrinsic parameters were obtained from scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and CV measurements. The study focuses on the degradation analysis of a-Si:H due to an increase in defect density. A rise in the defect concentration is a huge problem because it causes long-term solar cell degradation, which increases the recombination current and decreases the conversion efficiency. Furthermore, it decreases the photo-generating current and reduces the effective efficiency of the solar device. In other words, the electrical output decreases. This research investigates the reduction in a-Si:H modules’ maximum power, and correlates these with a hot spot formation. A PVPM IV tracer was used for the outdoor characterisation of the module’s temperature profile, while the IR camera was used to analyse the hot spot centre. A four probe IV/CV from NMU was used for the indoor assessment of smaller samples cleaved from both the affected and non-affected regions to characterise the electrical variations across the module viii samples. To be precise, in this study, a naturally degraded single junction amorphous silicon module was delaminated and its mechanical properties were analysed and correlated with the contact potential from a Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM).
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Evaluating Livestock Development Programmes through the Production Risk Interface: Case of the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (KyD) Scheme in South Africa
- Authors: Ngarava, Saul
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Livestock projects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15730 , vital:40513
- Description: Livestock is significant in the livelihoods of the rural poor, providing a plethora of benefits. Livestock Development Programmes (LDPs) can transform smallholder farmers’ production for increased production and poverty reduction. The Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (KyD) Scheme is a LDP implemented in South Africa with the aim of assisting smallholder farmers to attain economic and sustainable beef production. The literature shows that most evaluations of LDPs have been quantitative based on measurable and quantifiable metrics. Furthermore, various socio-economic and institutional factors have a bearing on the decision to participate in LDPs and eventually adopting the practices. Impact assessments of LDPs have been devoid of risk consideration as well as ascertaining how risk introduced by participating in LDPs has impacted productivity. The overall objective of the study was therefore to evaluate LDPs, focussing on benefits, participation and risk. The specific objectives of the study entailed developing a conceptual tool for measuring the qualitative and secondary benefits. Secondly, it was to determine factors influencing participation decisions in the KyD Scheme. Thirdly, the study sought to measure and compare calving rate and off-take rate risk between KyD Scheme participants and non-participants. Lastly, the study highlighted the variability (risk) introduced by participating in a LDP and its impact on production. The study utilised a cross-sectional survey of KyD Scheme participants and nonparticipants in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. Non-probability convenience sampling method was utilised in selecting a sample of 164 KyD Scheme participants and 81 non-participants. A semi-structured questionnaire was the data collection tool utilised. A conceptual “Livelihood Effect Benefit Index”; Probit, Tobit and Ordered Probit models; Just and Pope Production function; Propensity Score Matching; and Monte Carlo Simulations were utilised to analyse data. Statistical Package for Social Scientists version 24, STATA 13 and @Risk Decision Tool were the analytical packages utilised in analysing the data. The study found that the Scheme provided low qualitative benefits, mainly through social capital. Furthermore, socio-economic and institutional factors have significant impact on the decision to participate in the Scheme, extent of participation and decision to continue practicing Scheme experiences. In comparing the two groups of Scheme and Scheme non-participants, calving and off-take risk for KyD Scheme participants was lower than that of Scheme non-participants. In comparing individuals with similar characteristics between the two groups, Scheme participants reduced calving risk whilst increasing the off-take risk. Page | vi The study concluded that the Scheme exhibited low qualitative benefits. Furthermore, the decisions to participate and the extent of participation in the KyD Scheme were influenced by various socio-economic and institutional factors, which were however more favourable to resource endowed smallholder farmers. In addition, the Scheme had significant impact on production risk. The risk reducing determinants appeared to also favour more resource endowed smallholder farmers who had more farming experience. The study’s recommendations were subdivided into short term, medium term and long term. The short term recommendations included targeting farmers within a distance of between 30km and 90km from a formal market, promoting dipping services-based training and extension, and providing information and training concerning calving i.e. animal health, husbandry and breed selection for herd maximization. Participation in the Scheme and the extent of participation can be improved through enhancing awareness of the Scheme at various points where stock feed are available to farmers. Furthermore, enhanced cooperation with extension workers provides a conduit in improving awareness of the Scheme and enhancing participation. The medium term recommendations pertained to initiatives such as promoting other livelihood options to enhance benefits of the programme, and promoting social capital enhancing initiatives such as mentoring and providing social capital objectives that can be integrated into the overall livestock sector strategy. The long-term recommendations include initiatives such as subsidizing increase in herd size to between 50 and 120 cattle, maintaining a monthly frequency of farmer-extension contact of between 2 and 5 times per month, as well as incorporating calving and off-take risk in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation
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Evaluation of groundwater potential based on hybrid approach of geology, geophysics, and geoinformatics: Case study of Buffalo Catchment area, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Owolabi,Solomon T
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Hydrogeology Geology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Geology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12238 , vital:39218
- Description: This study focuses on the feasibility of exploring potential groundwater zones through assessment of catchment geo-hydrodynamic processes, using hydro-statistic principles and geographic information system-based approaches. The research work integrated analysis of hydrologic variables, geologic structures, and geomorpho-tectonic processes that provide information on spatial variability of hydrologic units in a watershed. The study is aimed at improving conceptual knowledge and presenting the technical feasibility of exploring potential groundwater zones through geo-hydrodynamic perspectives in hydrogeologically challenged environments. The study adopted a case design approach at the Buffalo hydrologic basin headwater in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The methods used in this study include: field mapping of geologic units and structures, digital processing of aeromagnetic map, cross-section profiling of borehole logs, auto-extraction of lineament, streamflow variability and recession assessment, geomorpho-tectonic analysis of surficial drainage pattern, vertical electrical sounding for imaging shallow subsurface layers, and geospatial integration of thematic maps of groundwater multi-influencing factors. The results indicate that the hydrogeological settings of Buffalo watershed comprised of good, moderate, fair, poor and very poor groundwater potential zones which cover 187 km2 , 338 km2 , 406 km2 , 185 km2 , and 121 km2 respectively. The results report that the groundwater system of Buffalo watershed is mainly hosted by the well-drained fractured dolerite and the shallow unconfined sandstone aquifer. The aquifer is bounded by two parallel impermeable valley walls in the north and south. Also, the Buffalo drainage system constitutes a variable head boundary as a groundwater discharge zone. The groundwater discharge which mostly occurs at the Tshoxa upper course, Mgqakwebe, Quencwe, Yellowwoods upper course and the Buffalo River center influence the status of the Buffalo River as a perennial river system. vi The groundwater recharge occurs through the networks of surficial lineaments and fractures concentrated on the sandstone lithosome, mostly in the northern half of the watershed. The surficial tectonic features trend in a WNW-ESE and E-W direction. The groundwater flow system is controlled by the subsurface lineaments which are oriented in west-northwest – eastsoutheast direction. Most of the groundwater recharge is driven by rain which is extreme at the north. The hydro-climatic pattern of the region influences the dendritic drainage system of Buffalo watershed. The geologic characterization and geomorpho-tectonic analysis indicate that the geologic settings are made up of upward-fining lithologic material and siliciclastic materials that were deposited as fill in paleochannels by braided and meandering fluvial systems. The variability in dissection property and the fluvial system indicates that Buffalo hydrologic and geomorphic systems are heterogeneous and complex. The possible impact of these variabilities aligns with the report of geoelectric sections which revealed the heterogeneity of the aquifer intrinsic properties and variability in groundwater yield. The electric resistivity tomography revealed the existence of a fault system and variation in the thickness of the aquifer. Hydrologic characterization indicates the vulnerability status of the rivers within the watershed. In particular, the Ngqokweni River is vulnerable to diminution while Quencwe River has the potential for a flash flood. Buffalo station is an important surface water capture zone. Delineation of groundwater potential zone should incorporate geologic, hydrologic, geophysical, geomorphotectonic, and environmental perspectives due to the inherent relationship among influencing factors. The study therefore identifies groundwater capture zones which can be further explored for groundwater development and to mitigate the stake of water shortage. The study therefore recommends the approach here to the department of water affairs for adoption to map the zones of groundwater potential at a regional scale. The study also provides resourceful information on vii groundwater recharge zones and therefore recommends that the environment and water stakeholders work together to protect the recharge zones from groundwater contamination due to land use
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Evaluation of pre-treatment methods on production of bioethanol from bagasse and sugarcane trash
- Authors: Dodo, Charlie Marembo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Lignocellulose
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15387 , vital:40403
- Description: A variety of methods have been researched on for bioethanol preparation from different feedstocks. Amongst the available feedstock, one such feedstock is the sugarcane plant. In most of the research on bioethanol preparation with sugarcane the sugary juice has been widely used, with the bagasse and trash having been discarded as waste. The “waste” bagasse and trash are usually removed and thrown away or burnt during harvesting or in sugar mills to supplement energy requirements. This research on lignocellulosic bagasse and trash was done so as not to discard them but to rather find ways in which to use this biomass constructively. Alternatives to burning that can potentially add value to this biomass need to be researched on by evaluating their hydrolysis content. The different lignocellulose pretreatment methods of concentrated and dilute acid pretreatment, with subsequent enzyme hydrolysis as well as alkali and oxidative alkali pretreatment with enzyme hydrolysis were experimented on the bagasse and trash for hydrolysis efficiency and effectiveness. There are two types of acid hydrolysis which were investigated on which are concentrated and dilute sulphuric acid pretreatments. Use of concentrated sulphuric acid yielded the highest amounts of reducing sugars but also resulted in the highest amounts of downstream process inhibitors formation. This resulted in the need for neutralisation steps which in turn increase the overall costs of using this method to obtain reducing sugars. It has however the advantage of occurring at a faster rate, within minutes or hours, than using biological enzymes which took days, up to 72 hours to obtain the highest reducing sugar amounts. Dilute sulphuric acid pretreatment offered the advantage of using fewer chemicals which are therefore less severe on equipment and result in fewer fermentation inhibitors being formed. Dilute sulphuric acid hydrolysis also takes a relatively shorter period than biological methods of pretreatment. A challenge of fermentation inhibitors formed during acid hydrolysis was countered by using the methods of overliming (calcium hydroxide) and comparing it to neutralization with sodium hydroxide. Alkali pretreatment with sodium hydroxide was researched on by applying different pretreatment concentrations during experiments on the lignocellulosic biomass. There was an increase in the available quantities of cellulose with a significant reduction in lignin with pretreatment. Alkali pretreatment proved effective in exposing the cellulose which made v more cellulose surface area available to cellulase enzymes for enzyme hydrolysis. The highest yield of reducing sugars was obtained from hydrolysates pretreated with 0.25 M sodium hydroxide for 60 min and a period of 72 h of enzyme hydrolysis. In general the longer the pretreatment time the more reducing sugars were produced from the enzyme hydrolysis. Alkali peroxide pretreatment also resulted in significant reductions in lignin quantities of lignocellulose material. In this method sodium hydroxide in combination with hydrogen peroxide were used in pretreating the biomass. Hydrolysates with even fewer fermentation inhibitors were produced as a result. The highest percentage concentration of cellulose of 63% (g/g) was achieved after pretreatment of bagasse with 5% alkali hydrogen peroxide and trash with 0,25M sodium hydroxide pretreatment. Pretreatment of biomass using alkali with subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis gave the highest yields of fermentable sugars of 38% (g/g) using 7% (v/v) alkali peroxide pre-treated trash than 36% (g/g) for 5% (v/v) with the least inhibitors. Reducing sugar yields of 25% (g/g) and 22% (g/g) were obtained after pretreatment with concentrated and dilute acid respectively. Neutralization of the acid hydrolysates was necessary to reduce inhibitors formed with neutralisation by sodium hydroxide resulting in low dilutions and loss of fermentable sugars as unlike in the case of overliming. Subsequent steps of fermenting the reducing sugars resulting from pretreatment into bioethanol were based on using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae. Pretreatment hydrolysates from alkali peroxide experiments produced higher bioethanol yields of 13.7 (g/l) after enzyme hydrolysates versus 6.9 (g/l) bioethanol from dilute acid hydrolyzates. A comparison of the effects of time showed there was more bioethanol yield of 13.7 (g/l) after 72 h of fermentation with the yeast versus 7.0 (g/l) bioethanol after pretreatment for 24 h. The only drawback is the longer fermentation period which thus reduces the process and so reduces the value of the increase in yield
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Examining educators’ strategies for promoting science learning and science literacy among grade 9 learners in a South African Rural Education District
- Authors: Mtsi, Nomxolisi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Elementary) Children's literature in science education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16150 , vital:40673
- Description: Science learning and Science Literacy (SL) play a crucial role in preparing learners to participate in the country’s economy with the relevant knowledge, higher order thinking and analytical reasoning to solve day-to-day problems. The purpose of this research was to examine educators’ strategies for promoting science learning and SL among grade 9 learners in a rural education district in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. Learning of science and promotion of SL complement each other and therefore science educators’ strategies are pertinent. The study used pragmatic paradigm and the mixed method approach and was informed by cognitive and social constructivism as theoretical frameworks. For data collection, the study used convenience sampling based on the proximity and comparative ease of the researcher to reach the rural schools to select 30 out of 67 schools spread over six out of the eight circuits in the selected education district. On the other hand, purposive sampling was used for the selection of learners by their educators based on academic performance, top, average and below average achievers. Since each school had only one grade 9 science educator, 30 grade 9 science educators from the selected 30 schools formed the sample for quantitative data. Out of these 30, 10 educators who volunteered first for interviews and gave permission for being observed in their classrooms were selected for qualitative data collection. Three learners in each of the 10 schools from which the educators for qualitative data collection were selected, constituted the learners’ sample (30 learners). While data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and observations from educators, data from learners were collected through focus group (FG) interviews. The questionnaire was structured in order to gather educators’ biographical data as well as information on educators’ strategies to promote science learning and SL. The interview schedule was similar to the questionnaire but biographical data were excluded. Observations focused on educators’ strategies for science learning, SL and assessments. The data from the questionnaire were descriptively analysed and the qualitative and transcribed observation data were thematically analysed. Final conclusions were drawn based on the triangulated data. Major findings showed that the strategies which the educators employed in the descending order of use were: Investigation at 97percent; Discussion, Presentation and Project, each at 93percent; Problem solving at 90percent; Demonstration and Question-Answer, each at 87percent; Case study and Brainstorming, each at 77percent; Role-play at 63percent; Lecture at 57percent; Modelling at 47percent, Inquiry at 27percent and Simulation at 23percent. Findings also revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies used by educators. Some of the strengths were: promotion of interactive learning; stimulation of research skills; enhancement of critical thinking and development of confidence through participation. Some of the weaknesses were: learners’ tendency to rely on others; lack of resources hindering learning and promotion of plagiarism. The study recommends that all stakeholders must work together to achieve good quality education. District and Provincial officers ought to track and monitor the science curriculum implementation. Subject specialists, educator subject committees and cluster leaders must also be active in strategic planning for enhancing SL in schools by putting forward their inputs and adopting consensus-based ones. A framework for driving science content with pedagogical content knowledge and practicals-driven strategy for enhancing science content knowledge is proposed.
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Examining the teaching of natural sciences concepts to English second language speakers in selected primary schools in the East London Education District
- Authors: Kumanda, Nomaroma
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15925 , vital:40564
- Description: The study sought to examine the teaching of Natural Sciences (NS) concepts to English second language speakers in selected primary schools. Grade 7 was chosen for the investigation as it precedes the last class at primary school. The researcher investigated the teaching and learning of Natural sciences concepts. A mixed method design was used. The research questions focused on the teaching of NS, learner-centred strategies used, challenges encountered, strategies employed by teachers when teaching NS, and the implications for science education.The purpose was to examine the teaching of Natural Sciences concepts to English second language speakers in selected primary schools in the East London Education District. Data were collected from grade 7 teachers and learners in selected township schools in East London, by means of semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and focus groups. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to teachers and learners, individual interviews were conducted with NS head of department, focus group and interviews were held with grade 7 NS learners. Quantitative and qualitative data were independently analysed and merged at the interpretation stage for triangulation of results. The questions were grouped according to their themes. The researcher’s findings revealed that teachers linked the teaching of NS concepts by showing the teaching skills. Teachers used code-switching for learners to understand the scientific concepts for positive attitude to improve the learner performance. Teachers experienced problems using English as a Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) while teaching NS concepts, teachers’ understanding of NS influenced their ability to implement of transformational curriculum, but learners did not benefit much when learning science in English Language and those policies were designed by the Department of Education without teacher involvement. The study concluded by noting that It emerged that teachers and learners experienced difficulties in teaching and learning of the NS concepts.
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Exploring the interplay of sociolinguistic factors in the teaching of esl at secondary school level in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Jhamba , Duren
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Sociolinguistics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15770 , vital:40522
- Description: The researcher noted that earlier second language teaching models tended to treat language as an artefact to be scrutinised and adhered to with grammatical precision. This tended to reduce all language learning to the mere acquisition of grammatical skills. However, since all language behaviour is embedded in sociocultural and contextual frameworks, all teaching should provide cross-cultural awareness of that complexity as well as of the internal variation within language. Therefore, the research explored the interplay of sociolinguistic factors in the teaching of English in Zimbabwe. The Mixed Methods design; a combination of the descriptive survey and the case study was adopted. The questionnaire, interview, observation and document analysis methods were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data to assess the role of sociolinguistic factors in second language teaching pedagogy. A combination of convenient sampling and stratified random sampling was used to come up with a sample representative of the school categories and the gender of teachers in the 38 secondary schools in Gweru District. The data for the research was collected from a random sample of 50 teachers. The data analysis supported the need for a reconceptualisation of ESL teaching in Zimbabwe. Notably, language teaching tended to be exam-centric, unimaginative and not well linked to the needs of the learners in the communicative environment outside the school. This confirmed the initial observation that the secondary school graduates generally lacked sociolinguistic competence skills. The teachers were, however generally not motivated to include culture and sociolinguistics in their teaching. The research therefore recommended a revisit of the 7 | Page allowance for the interplay of sociolinguistic factors at all the planning stages of the ESL curriculum; the status, corpus and acquisition stages.
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Genetic characteristics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1, and deter-minants of late presentation for care and Diabetes mellitus amongst newly diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive patients in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Authors: Sogbanmu, Olufunso Oladipo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: HIV infections
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:40495
- Description: Phylogenies may help to characterize transmission pairs, enhance contact tracing and outbreak investigations, track the origin and spread of epidemics over place and time, and to identify patterns of onward Human Immunodeficiency-Virus (HIV) transmission among risk groups. If the pattern and evolution of HIV drug resistance can be mapped, this may influence the development of guidelines in the clinical management of HIV especially with issues relating to prevalence of primary drug resistance and its impact on outcomes of present antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimen in use and the ability to trace and track the development of drug resistant strains. The roll-out of the test and treat Programme for newly diagnosed HIV infected pa-tient, seeks to identify HIV infected individuals early and to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with the late presentation for HIV care. The determination of the magnitude of ‘late presentation’ and or ‘presentation with advanced HIV disease’ can be used in very diverse settings and for many purposes. It provides a unified way to define the problem, thereby targeting appropriate interventions to prevent the detrimental outcomes associated with late presentation to care. The subtle relationship between HIV and diabetes mellitus (DM) may also help in formulating better preventive programs to aid the control of non-communicable diseases such as DM. This cross-sectional study includes a purposive selection of 335 HIV positive patients attending the voluntary counselling and Testing (VCT) and HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) centres and outpatient departments at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital and the HCT sites at the Buffalo District municipality community health centres, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Late or delayed presentation of HIV infection was defined as CD4 cell count beneath 350 cells/μL and/or patients presenting with an AIDS-defining event at the first follow-up regardless of the CD4 cell count. Chapter 1 provides the general introduction had an overview of the introduction to the study, the statement of the research problem, hypothesis, the aim and the objectives. xx Chapter 2 looked in-depth at the HIV, case definition, the latest epidemiology of HIV, the HIV genome, the life cycle of HIV, its diagnosis, the classes of antiretroviral drugs, development of drug resistance. Chapter 3 highlighted the prevalence of Transmitted Drug Resistance (TDR) with focus on the protease gene. RNA was extracted from blood samples of 72 newly diagnosed HIV-1 patients attending some HIV testing and counselling clinics from August 2016 to July 2017. Protease fragments were amplified with specific primers by RT-PCR followed by nested PCR. The amplified products were sequenced using the ABI 360 sequencer, edited with Geneious version 9.1.5 and translated into amino acid with BioEdit software. Drug related resistance mutation (DRMs) analysis was performed on all the protease sequences in accordance with the 2009 WHO list of surveillance drug resistance mutations by submitting the edited sequences to Stanford HIV drug interpretation programme and the international AIDS society-USA guidelines for query of drug resistance associated mutations while phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA 6 to allocate all viral sequences into subtypes. In the study, a total of 52/72 (71.1%) reliable HIV-1 protease sequences were obtained in which subtyping and drug resistance mutations were performed. Two (3.8%) major Protease resistance associated mutation (V82A/L and L90M) were observed while another polymorphism like L10F, T74S, Q58E, L10I/V and M46V were also identified. Phylogenetic analyses delineated all the sequences as HIV-1 subtype C. Chapter 4 describes the prevalence and the determinants of late presentation amongst newly diagnosed HIV positive individuals in the Eastern Cape. It indicates the extent of the prevalence of patients presenting to care and at what HIV stage they were assessing health care services since the inception of the ‘test and treat’ strategy. It is a cross-sectional study where a total of 335 newly diagnosed patients were recruited consecutively be-tween August 2016 and July 2017. Late presenter for HIV care was defined in accordance with the European Late Presenter Consensus working group as a patient who reports for care when the CD4 count is below 350 cells/μL and/or when there is an established Aids- xxi defining clinical condition, irrespective of CD4 count. Adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression analysis was used to examine the determinants of late HIV diagnosis. The study showed that 60% of patients were late presenters, with 35% presenting with advanced disease. The major determinants identified were being male and low level of education. This led to recommendations directed at ensuring programmes that targets men in identifying their HIV status and assess care at early stage to prevents the morbidity and mortality associated with delayed presentation. Also, it was recommended that effort should be made to improve access to education and also include HIV related topics into the educational curriculum. Chapter 5 aimed to describe the prevalence and determinants of DM amongst newly diagnosed HIV positive individuals. This is a cross-sectional study which recruited 335 patients between August 2016 and September 2017. Definition for diabetes mellitus was made based on the SEDMSA 2015 guideline of HBA1C of above 6.5%. Adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression analysis was used to examine the determinants of abnormal glycated haemoglobin. Findings showed the prevalence of DM at about 6% amongst newly diagnosed HIV positive individuals. This is similar to findings in other study within the country, but a bit lower than what was obtained in the developed countries. The role of older age (above 40 years) as predisposing factor to development of diabetes in newly diagnosed HIV positive individual was well noted and taken. This ensures that screening for DM should be targeted at elderly HIV positive individuals. The grey area of the appropriate mode of diagnostic test to use to diagnose HIV is still debatable, however, a combination of HBA1c and fasting blood sugar (FBS) may improve the diagnosis of DM in this population group. In chapter 6, the general conclusions, recommendations and future perspectives of the study are reflected.
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Genetic diversity, resistance profile of hiv and risk assessment of mother-to-child transmission in pregnant women on antiretroviral therapy in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Adeniyi, Oladele Vincent
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Antiretroviral agents , HIV infections -- Treatment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15120 , vital:40183
- Description: Despite the initiation of life-long ART in HIV-infected pregnant women, the rate and determinants of infant HIV transmission are not known, especially in the poor resource settings of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Maternal anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, the inevitable risks of emergence of HIV drug resistance poses significant threat to achieving this goal of HIV-free generation and keeping mothers alive. Also, it is unclear if women with high viral load at delivery have acquired clinically relevant mutations, which could confer resistance to the ART, thus, further increasing the risks of motherto-child transmission of HIV-drug resistance strains. In addition to the gaps identified in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) context, the understanding of regional epidemics is crucial to the broader epidemiological profiling of HIV infections in the country. Despite the rapid influx of foreign nationals to South African and Eastern Cape Province, there has not been any molecular epidemiological studies profiling the HIV diversity in the Eastern Cape.
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Geological and geophysical assessment of groundwater vulnerability to contamination in selected general landfill sites in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mepaiyeda, Seyi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Groundwater -- Pollution Sanitary landfills
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Geology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12227 , vital:39217
- Description: Increasing expansion, population and urbanization have resulted in high volume of waste generated daily in South Africa. Most municipalities in the Eastern Cape are experiencing challenges in effective waste disposal, thus resulting in pollution of the air, soil and groundwater by the percolation of harmful contaminants into the environment from landfill leachate. Groundwater resources are limited in South Africa due to itssemi-arid nature. Also, there islimited information available, not only about where it occurs but how to manage it so that its quality does not depreciate to unacceptable levels. A combination of these factors coupled with a gap between waste policy and its subsequent implementation may be disastrous to South Africa. This research examines the impact of landfill sites on groundwater resources at three selected sites in the Eastern Cape Province using an integrated geological and geophysical approach. The methodology adopted include: an exhaustive literature review on waste management policies and practices in South Africa and Eastern Cape specifically. It also involved remote sensing for the study of geomorphology and structural interpretations of lineaments. Field excursions, analysis of physico-chemical and geochemical properties of groundwater obtained from monitoring boreholes and leachate pond in the vicinity of the landfill sites was also carried out. Combined induced polarization (IP) and electrical resistivity measurements for geophysical assessment of groundwater vulnerability and petrographical analysis was alos adopted. Data analysis and interpretation of the obtained results showed that the selected landfill sites are generally characterized by a 4-layer Earth structure with an average depth to top of the bedrock between 15 m - 30 m. Plant-rock association observed from the aerial photo-interpretation showed groundwater potential around the locality of the landfill sites with a dendritic to poorly drained x patterns and moderate to high topography. Structural controls such as the presence of lineaments and a fractured bedrock beneath, which are excellent pathways for the migration of leachate, particularly at the Berlin and King Williams Town landfill sites were observed. Analysis of physico-chemical and geochemical properties of water samples showed contamination of the groundwater by heavy metals and some of the physico-chemical properties were above the generally acceptable limits (WHO). These include high electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solid (TDS) values observed in the groundwater samples from the King Williams Town landfill which indicated a downward transfer of leachate into the groundwater. The difference in EC and TDS values for boreholes BH2 and BH1 (9892 µS/cm, 4939 mg/L and 6988 µS/cm, 3497 mg/L respectively), showed that concentration of contaminants increased towards the centre of the landfill. Interpretation of the obtained results from the Berlin landfill showed the presence of heavy metals in groundwater samples in high concentrations. This indicated the dumping of toxic and hazardous waste substances on the landfill, contrary to the landfill design and classification. This could have harmful effect on plants and animals. Integrated geophysical assessment showed the presence of leachate plumes on pseudosections across the landfill sites. This was further corroborated on the chargeability pseudosections. Resistivity and IP pseudosections from the Berlin landfill showed a 4-layered Earth structure and anomalous zones of resistivity (≤ 112 Ώ-m) and low chargeability (≤1.25 ms) in the top layers. This is indicative of percolating leachate plume in the unsaturated zone. Contaminants ranging from unsaturated waste with high ion content to dense aqueous phase liquid contaminants, characterized by low resistivity (34 Ώm to 80 Ώ-m) and low chargeability values (0.05 ms to 5.75 ms) were identified across the Alice landfill. Results from the King Williams Town Landfill revealed plume contamination to a depth of about 75 m, well within the aquiferous zone. xi It is suggested that waste disposal practices should be improved by proper waste inspection and classification at landfills prior to disposal, use of lining and cap material to prevent leaching of contaminants into the groundwater below and the construction of waste cells and containment structures. This will go a long way in mitigating groundwater contamination due to landfilling at the study areas
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Human resources competencies, employability and career success in South Africa: reflections of a sample of senior human resource practitioners
- Authors: Hlatywayo, Clifford Kendrick
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Personnel management Career development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13474 , vital:39671
- Description: Orientation: The research was a reflection on the careers of senior human resources (HR) personnel registered with the SABPP as master or chartered human resources practitioners. The study identified the human resources competencies in South Africa which are attributed to employability and subsequently career success; the study also tested the applicability of the competency model proposed by the SABPP. Purpose: The study explored human resource competencies, employability and career success in South Africa. It targeted participants registered as master or chartered practitioners with the SABPP. As human resource management is professionalising, there is a need to align the requirements of the profession to what the stakeholders (employers, universities, graduates and professional bodies) require. Without a set baseline for competencies which are instrumental to human resource employability and career success, it becomes challenging to identify human resource shortcomings in the workplace. Method: The study made use of an interpretive orientation. This interpretivist approach was adopted for two reasons – it could provide useful insight to human resource employability and secondly, to gain insight into the experiences of participants. Purposive sampling was used to solicit participants as the researcher decided to select practitioners registered as master or chartered HR professionals with the SABPP. In the study, 35 practitioner interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data and themes were derived from this. Main findings: The study identified: Volunteering; Work experience; Internships; Networking; Recommendations; Easy access to job market; Extracurricular activities; Resilience; Research; Having the right qualification; Recruitment agencies; Creativity; Further education; Willingness to learn; Attitude; Work ethic; Equity legislation; Work readiness; Passion for the job; Emotional intelligence; Personality; Positive psychology; Critical thinking; Emotional maturity; Behavioural competencies; Emotional intelligence; Technology; Entrepreneurial orientation; Technology and Entrepreneurial orientation as the factors which make one employable. Lack of work experience, Lack of jobs, Expectations of the world of work, Flooded market and No right qualification for HR professionals were identified as factors which make one unemployable. The competencies which are essential for HR employability and career success were identified. The meaning of career success for human resource practitioners was identified as: contribution to strategy. Being entrepreneurial, enjoying what one does, support from organisation, mastering HR competencies, income, v career planning and career were the themes identified to infer the meaning of career success. Areas of dissatisfaction were also identified from practitioners as: being underutilised; lack of a concise career path; always greener ‘on the other side’; monetary dissatisfaction; glass ceiling; and lack of contribution to strategy. After the SABPP model had been introduced, it enhanced organisation efficiency and guidance to HR strategy. It was used by practitioners to meet organisation objectives and to set objectives for personal development; however, in some organisations, the model was yet to be implemented and the public sector was putting in place a framework to be in line with the SABPP competency model. Some had no model in place and thus there was no impact on such organisations’. With regards to the competency model, its applicability to the human resource context and its shortcomings were deliberated upon. Practitioners gave their opinions of the applicability of the SABPP competency model: Model lays a solid foundation for HR as the Model justifies HR to the boardroom; Model covers all essential HR competencies. However, the model was also criticised as it was: too academic, lacked personal characteristics; nothing new here and it is relatively unknown by other practitioners. Practitioners also identified competencies they regarded as key: these were classified as traditional, modern and behavioural. Lastly, practitioners suggested competencies they think must be added into the SABPP competency model: the human touch; work ethic; love for people, passion for the profession, personality, emotional intelligence, attitude, behavioural competencies, positive psychology and arithmetic numeracy were identified as key items to be added. Human resource practitioners were content with the state of the model; the general weakness was the omission of personal attributes which are crucial for effective performance within the HR profession. Contribution: The study is a step towards enhancing sector-specific employability. In attaining employability, the generic skills, which are crucial, have to be cemented by disciplinespecific knowledge. Attaining a mark of 65% and above is a reflection of trainability of a job seeker. The meaning of career success is derived from the areas of dissatisfaction and satisfaction of practitioners. HR practitioners value contribution to strategy and are acknowledged for what they are doing. The legal framework in South Africa hinders career progression. There are 12 traits (networking, positive psychology, interpersonal strength, human touch, work ethic, love for people, passion for the profession, personality, emotional intelligence, arithmetic competency, attitude, behavioural competencies and being vi entrepreneurial) which are essential for effective performance which must be incorporated in the SABPP competency model. From the study, HR must go back to basics, master the basics and in doing so, create a solid foundation for HR ascendancy to the boardroom Managerial implication The implications of the study are synonymous to universities and the HR curriculum, the professional body and the future HR professional. HR graduate employability links labour market requirements to higher education. Higher education offers HR degrees for candidates who are willing to work in HR. The study is a contribution to the global professionalisation of human resource management. South Africa is setting the trend as the SABPP is actively involved in the certification of human resource curricula, setting standards and providing a sound code of ethics.
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Ict literacy skills and demographic factors as determinants of electronic resources use among the undergraduate students in the selected universities the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Olatoye , Oluwayemi IbukunOluwa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic information resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16176 , vital:40675
- Description: In today’s world, information is the foundation on which every strata in society is built and established. As we are in the jet age, the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) is sine-qua-non to academic development. It is equally important to acquire skills and build capacity in ICT applications, as well as reflect on the demographic factors that determine the utilization of electronic resources among the undergraduate respondents. ICT has also evolutionalized professionalism in librarianship by providing delivery of appropriate, suitable and value-added information services in digital format. This research, therefore, investigated undergraduate students’ ICT literacy skills and demographic factors as determinants of electronic resources use, with selected tertiary institutions of learning in Eastern Cape South Africa as a case study. The study was premised on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) with the aim of appraising undergraduate students’ ICT literacy skills and demographic factors as causative elements of e-resources utilization in designated Eastern Cape universities in South Africa, as well as to unravel the impact of the theories on the adoption of technology and the perceived utilization of the electronic resources. The application of DOI, TAM and TRA theories for this study exemplifies the acceptance and usage of technological innovations by envisioned users in ICT literacy skill and electronic resources research, and these theories formed the theoretical basis to strengthen the study. The specific x objectives of the study are: To ascertain how undergraduate students in selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Eastern Cape access e-resources; to determine the level of influence of ICT literacy skills on the use of electronic resources by Undergraduate students in the selected universities; to determine the regularity levels of use and problems encountered in the use of electronic resources by Undergraduate students in the selected universities; to ascertain the contributions of demographic factors on the use of electronic resources by Undergraduate students in the selected universities; and to determine the attitudes and perceptions of undergraduate students towards the use of eresources. The approach of the study was in threefold; one, general discussion regarding ICT literacy skills of the respondents and secondly the demographic factors that determine electronic resources use of undergraduate students in the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. Finally, ICT literacy skills and demographic factors were investigated with the applicability of TAM, DOI and TRA theories Specifically, under these theories (TAM, TRA and DOI), TAM and TRA models were used to explain behavioural intention and to envisage user acceptance of technology usage (electronic resources), and to elucidate the correlation between the respondent’s (undergraduate students) perceptions, attitudes, beliefs and ultimately system utilization. DOI was conceptualized in this study as a valued tool for appraising the effect of demographic factors on the utilization of electronic resources among the undergraduate students in their academic pursuit. The major findings of the study specifies that ICT literacy skills and demographic factors determine the use of electronic resources. Hence, it is reasoned in the thesis that ICT xi literacy and demographic factors affects the frequency of electronic resources with those, for instance, who have obtained high ICT literacy skill levels when compared to others who are yet to develop their ICT literacy skills. Further, it has been disclosed elsewhere in the study that in terms of age, the younger undergraduate students (from 21 to 30 years) utilize electronic resources more regularly than their older colleagues (those who are 30 years of age and above).The study was approached with the adoption of the mixed-method research technique. The administration of a total of 377 copies of the questionnaire to undergraduate respondents in the aforementioned HEIs, (out of which 266 copies were returned), was conducted with in-depth interview conversations comprising of ten participants, with six respondents selected in the University of Fort Hare and four respondents from Rhodes University. Data acquired from the study were processed and analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for the quantitative data. In the light of the theoretical frameworks of the study, research results established that the ICT experience of the undergraduate respondents greatly influences their proficiency levels. This hypothesized assertion was subjected to statistical validity test through regression analysis. The result depicts that the p-value is 0.49 (which means that p≤ 0.05), and interprets to mean that the hypothesis is accepted. Also, the findings of this study depicts that the utilization of electronic resources by the respondents is mostly for entertainment purposes (such as viewing online videos, listening to sport commentaries, music and video downloads, e-mail communications, chatting with other people) had the highest rankings from the component matrix analysis which were greater than 0.5. From the forgoing, this is interpreted to mean that the respondents possess excellent proficiency in ICT literacy skills as well as in the use of Microsoft packages. xii Also, in the course of the in-depth research interview, it was discovered that most of the interviewees have excellent proficiency in ICT literacy skills. Generally, gender is an essential element that determines accessibility and e-resource utilization of respondents to electronic resources through the home and from other sources. Furthermore, it was discovered that that language is not a determinant regarding respondents’ accessibility and e-resource utilization from other sources of access to respondents. The analysis of this study revealed that more males, who are within the active e-resource using age bracket of 21 to 30 years old access and utilize electronic resources through the residences than their female counterparts. This age bracket is followed in terms of access and use of e-resources through residences by the respondents that are 20 years and below. A chi-square test of independence was also performed to survey the level of correlation between age and access to E-resources. A small p-value (typically ≤ 0.05) indicates strong evidence against the null hypothesis, so you reject the null hypothesis. A large p-value (> 0.05) shows weak evidence against the null hypothesis, so you reject the null hypothesis i.e. X2 (3, N=53) = 7.82. The Pearson chi-square (p-value) generated was .294, which is construed to mean that it is insignificant. Therefore, the explanation is that age has no influence on access of respondents to electronic resources through cybercafé. In order to make ICT literacy skills more beneficial to the undergraduate students in the selected HEIs, recommendations were made in this study. Firstly, there is a need for mass enlightenment campaigns on the use and benefits of E-resources among undergraduate respondents, the building of capacity of the undergraduate students in the use of electronic resources ICT literacy skill development programmes, need for intervention programmes focusing on the application xiii of some E-resources and software where the students are ranked low. Further, it is recommended that female students need to be encouraged to use E-resources. Also, delivery and empowering of Wi-Fi services, as well as the provision of CD- ROM databases should be considered.
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Impact of adoption of drought tolerant maize varieties on yield in the face of climate change: A case of Salima, Chikwawa and Karonga districts, Malawi
- Authors: Rukasha, Conscience Tanyaradzwa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Climatic changes Food security Dry farming
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15628 , vital:40491
- Description: Drought is a huge limiting factor in maize production, mainly in the rain-fed agriculture of subSaharan Africa. In response to this threat, drought-tolerant (DT) maize varieties have been developed with an aim to ensure maize productivity under drought conditions. This study assessed the impact of smallholder farmers’ adoption of DT maize varieties on maize productivity. The first step into understanding the impact of adoption of these varieties on smallholder farmers’ productivity was to first identify the varieties that they were growing. To achieve this, data was collected through the means of a household survey of 600 farmers from Karonga, Chikwawa and Salima districts in Malawi. The major findings drawn were that though most of the farmers have adopted the use of hybrids, as they are fairly common among the varieties that are being grown, most of these hybrids were not drought tolerant varieties. Previous studies had concluded that most of the farmers in Malawi were still growing local varieties. Results from this study showed a major increase in the use of hybrids with SC403 being the most grown variety. The second step in the analysis of the impact of DT maize adoption was to analyse the level and intensity of adoption of these varieties among the smallholder farmers. This was done using a Double Hurdle Model. The results from the double hurdle showed that only 23% of the sampled farmers were growing one or more DT varieties on their plots. Generally, farmers’ decision to use improved agricultural technologies and the intensity of the use in a given period of time are hypothesized to be influenced by a combined effect of various factors such as household characteristics, socioeconomic and physical environments in which farmers operate. The results in this study have shown that the geographical location of farmers plays a significant role in the decision to adopt as well as off-farm income and input subsidies. In terms of intensity, the results revealed that the farmers allocated an average of 0.46 ha of their land under maize cultivation to DT varieties. The results also showed that the intensity of adoption was influenced by gender, household size, whether or not the farmer is recycling the seed and soil fertility. The next step in the study was analysing the impact that intra-seasonal weather variability had on maize productivity. This was done by using daily weather variables for the whole growing season so as to take into account evaporation, rain gaps and other intra seasonal weather limitations. The Just and Pope Production Function was used to analyse the impact of intra-seasonal weather vi variability on productivity. The results suggest that the amount and distribution of rainfall have a strong impact on the development of the maize crop and consequently the quantity harvested. From the results, there was evidence of high variability in rainfall characteristics in terms of the intraseasonal distribution which in turn translated into high variability in maize quantity harvested by the smallholder farmers in Malawi. Lastly, the Endogenous Switching Regression Model was used to analyse the impact of adoption of DT varieties on yield. The results showed that the adoption of DT varieties increases productivity. The use of counterfactual data from the Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) allowed for an in-depth analysis of the productive implications. The results from the ESR model showed that the farm households that did not adopt, had they adopted, they would have increased their productivity. Furthermore, the results indicated that the use of DT maize varieties successfully delivered relatively less reliance on the total and net rainfall, that is, adopters managed to support their productivity in the face of changing climate while the non-adopters were adversely affected by an increase in temperature and decrease in total rainfall. Adoption of DT varieties increased output among smallholder farmers by 441.33 kg which translates to a 41% increase. Conclusively, the results from this study showed that smallholder farmers are adopting new and improved hybrids and improved OPVs and moving away from the use of local varieties. However the new varieties they are currently using are mostly not DT varieties. This is an interesting finding because the farmers when asked about their preferred traits in maize seed mentioned drought tolerance, therefore the low level of adoption points to numerous factors. These factors include lack of awareness of these varieties among smallholder farmers and unavailability of seed. The results also showed that the level of adoption was low among the farmers. With respect to productivity, this study has shown that adoption of DT varieties by smallholder farmers will increase their yield in the face of climate change
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Implementation of multicultural education by high school teachers in multicultural classrooms in selected schools-Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Matshikiza, Siphokazi , Luggya, S K
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Multicultural education -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa Culturally relevant pedagogy -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11352 , vital:39064
- Description: This study deals with the implementation of Multicultural Education by High School Teachers (HST) in multicultural classrooms in selected high schools in Chris Hani West District of Education, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The purpose of the study was to explore the implementation of ME by HST in multicultural classrooms. The study was located in an interpretivist paradigm, which enabled the researcher to obtain data directly from the subjects themselves, by sitting with the participants and hearing their views, voices, perceptions, opinions, interpretations and expectations with regard to the implementation of Multicultural Education (ME) in High Schools. Case study research design was adopted in the study in order to get in-depth information about what is happening in schools. Purposive sampling strategy was used by the researcher to select individuals who could offer an authentic account of the phenomenon under study. The researcher collected data, which were qualitative in nature utilising basic semi- structured face- to- face interviews, focus groups, classroom observations and document analysis. The data were collected and analysed inductively for the themes and patterns to be derived. The study revealed that ME approach is being implemented by some of the teachers in the selected schools however, there were challenges encountered. According to the findings of the study, it was revealed that teachers did not receive training from the Department of Education on how to implement ME approach at the schools. It was also found that teachers were empowered only with different types of prescribed textbooks and the guidelines on the course content in their learning.The study recommends that ME should be part of the curriculum for in-service teacher training. The school policy framework should enforce and regulate the practice of ME by the HST. In this regard, teachers need to be well equipped to be able to implement ME effectively. Therefore, the classroom strategies and interventions need to be created to provide equal learning opportunities for all diverse learners from different backgrounds with different learning needs in the multicultural classrooms. However, the Department of Education should organise workshops and seminars for the teachers to be able to implement ME effectively in the classrooms. v Furthermore, the Department should ensure that the content of the books that the publishers select for the learners do incorporate ME throughout the topics and themes of the books. Adequate resources should be provided for both learners and teachers for the successful implementation of ME. Parents should be involved for new developments and curriculum transformation in the school level as vital stakeholders. This should encourage the ownership of the education process by everybody involved to yield positive outcome. Language policy on the curriculum should be revisited for all the learning areas except the learners’ mother tongue. This could make the learners understand the content of their relevant learning areas easily. Therefore, teachers need to shift from old approach to the new approach to meet and be able to address the needs of the learners effectively. Support and monitoring should be rendered by the Department of Education for the successful implementation of ME.
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Implementation of school-based assessment in high schools, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa : implications for teaching and learning
- Authors: Chipfiko, Jack
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: High schools -- Examinations Educational tests and measurements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15892 , vital:40549
- Description: The purpose of any education system is to deliver a quality educational product. Various forms of assessment are used to ensure the suitability of the product and inform decisions. In South Africa, School-Based Assessment(SBA) is one of the tools used to assess the content competences, skills, values and attitudes; to provide learners, parents and teachers with results that are a meaningful indication of what the learners know, understand and can do at the time of assessment (DBE, 2012). Surprisingly, on a yearly basis, Umalusi reports reveal that SBA marks are rejected resulting in the learners being resulted on mostly the year end examination. The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of SBA with a view to unearth the factors contributing to the perennial rejection of SBA marks, resulting in learners from some schools being unfairly assessed. To explore the research problem, a mixed methods study, employing a concurrent triangulation design, was employed. Total Quality Management theory was the theoretical framework anchoring this study. Sub research questions to interrogate the research problem focused on examining the roles of the teachers, learners and parents in the implementation of SBA; assessing the structures in place to support the implementation of SBA; examining how teachers, learners and parents play complementary roles in the implementation of SBA; and identifying strategies to enhance the implementation of SBA in South African (SA) high schools. Data were collected using Questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions with purposively selected samples of teachers, learners and SGB chairpersons from high schools in White River Circuit in Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. The use of mixed methods produced quantitative and qualitative data which were independently analysed and merged during interpretation. Findings revealed that: participants and respondents confirmed the various roles of SBA in teaching and learning; structures were in place to support the implementation of SBA in high schools; complementarity of roles were sporadic in the implementation of SBA in high schools; and various strategies were employed to enhance the implementation of SBA in high schools. Implications for teaching and learning focused on realigning the implementation processes in the production of a quality educational product, and maximising its benefits to teachers, learners and parents.
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Incidence of cholera-causing and non cholera-causing pathogenic vibrio species in the river-k and two of its feeder wastewater treatment plants in the Raymond Mhlaba municipality, Eastern Cape province of South Africa
- Authors: Gcilitshana, Onele
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Effluent quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15145 , vital:40190
- Description: Despite technological advances in water treatment and improved sanitation in many developing countries, acute microbial diseases still thrive and continue to distress millions of people. This is due to the high number of rural dwellers that still source water for drinking and other domestic uses from contaminated rivers. In South Africa, there have been reports on waterborne disease outbreaks, and specifically in the area understudy, two records of diarrhoeal outbreaks associated with consumption of river water were reported within the last decade. All those outbreaks and previous reports on isolation of other pathogenic bacteria within the area necessitated the conduction of this study in order to identify the potential causes of the cholera-associate diarrheal outbreaks previously reported in the area and nationally. This study was designed to assess the incidence of cholera-causing and non-cholera causing pathogens in final effluents and surface waters of the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. RiverK which serves as a major resource for domestic activities, agricultural practices as well as an abstraction point for a potable water treatment plant was used for this study. River-K freshwater and final effluents of its two feeder wastewater treatment plants were sampled monthly, over a twelve-month period (December 2016–November 2017). For purposes of confidentiality, the names of the wastewater treatment plants and river involved are coded in this report. A total of 108 water samples were assessed for the physicochemical parameters that influence the presence of Vibrio pathogens. For bacteriology, the membrane filtration method followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was adopted to assess the incidence of cholera-causing and non-choleracausing Vibrio pathogens, as well as their virulence-associated genes from the two wastewater treatment plants and their receiving waterbody (River-K). Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of identified Vibrio species were determined using the disc diffusion method against a panel of xvi sixteen antibiotics commonly used as antimicrobial drugs of Vibrio infections. Multiple antibiotics resistance index (MARI) and phenotypes (MARP) were measured, and the existence of antibiotic resistance genes was evaluated by PCR using specific primer sets. Most of the physicochemical parameters measured (pH, TDS, temperature, salinity and DO) complied with the recommended standards for drinking water, while some fell short of the recommended limits (EC, turbidity, TSS, free chlorine). From the presumptive Vibrio isolates, 64.3% (476/740) were confirmed by PCR, with their Vibrio densities across all sampling points ranging between 0 and 2.7 × 104 CFU/100 mL, with high counts recorded in summer, hence their positive significant correlation (P< 0.01) with temperature. From the confirmed Vibrio isolates, only V. cholerae (53/476), V. mimicus (21/476) and V. parahaemolyticus (5/476) were detected. For virulence-associated genes, virulence genes homologous to V. cholerae virulence determinants, namely ompU (35%), TCP (14%), ACE (11%), ctx (7%) and HylA (4.5%) were widespread (independently) amongst the V. cholerae and V. mimicus species, while V. parahemolyticus isolates (100%) produced only the ToxR gene. Antibiogram profiling found resistance against some antibiotics such as Nalidixic acid (65%), Polymyxin B (43.8%) etc. The MAR indices ranged between 0 and 0.67 with 41.3% of the isolates recording MAR index values above 0.2. The results presented high degrees of MARPs ranging from four to eleven antimicrobials. For resistance gene detection, the SXT element was detected in 66% of the isolates, while cat1 (93%) was the most predominant, followed by aac (68%), ant (61%), with bla-V (7.1%) as the least detected gene. Findings from this study suggest that the wastewater effluents from the two wastewater treatment plants are potential sources of pathogenic Vibrio species and River-K contains a high quantity of pathogenic Vibrio species with fluctuating seasonal variations that reaffirm temperature as a strong reason for their abundance. The antibiotic-resistant Vibrio species isolated here carry a pool of virulence-associated genes and xvii antibiotic resistance genes, presenting a health threat to the communities that use it directly for domestic and irrigation purposes. In conclusion, some surface waters in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa are widely contaminated with cholera-causing and non-cholera causing Vibrio pathogens; furthermore, some wastewater treatment plants are ineffective in adequately removing microbial contaminants and have become sources of pathogenic bacteria to their receiving waterbodie
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