28 research outputs found
Understanding school effects in South Africa using multilevel analysis: findings from TIMSS 2011
Abstract Introduction. Studies of school effect usually evolve around two major issues; understandin
Mapping of water-related ecosystem services in the uMngeni catchment using a daily time-step hydrological model for prioritisation of ecological infrastructure investment – Part 1: Context and modelling approach
South Africa is a semi-arid country which frequently faces water shortages, and experienced a severe drought in the 2016 and 2017 rainfall seasons. Government is under pressure to continue to deliver clean water to the growing population at a high assurance of supply. Studies now show that the delivery of water may be sustained not only through built infrastructure such as dams and pipelines, but also through investment in ecological infrastructure (EI). A daily time-step hydrological model was used to map areas which should be prioritised for protection or rehabilitation to sustain the delivery of water-related ecosystem services within the uMngeni catchment. We focused on three water-related ecosystem services, i.e.: water supply, sustained baseflow, erosion control/avoidance of excessive sediment losses. The two key types of degradation were modelled, namely, overgrazing and the invasion of upland areas by Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii). This, Part 1 of a paper in 2 parts, provides a discussion on the role of EI in delivering water-related ecosystem services, describes the motivation for the study, and the methods used in modelling and mapping the catchment. The results of this modelling exercise are presented in Part 2, which also explores and illustrates the potential hydrological benefits of rehabilitation and protection of EI in the uMngeni Catchment.Keywords: water, ecosystem services, hydrological modelling, ecological infrastructure, water securit
Utilisation of maternity services by black women in rural and urban areas of the Orange Free State
An epidemiological survey was undertaken to evaluate the utilisation of maternal services for black women in the Orange Free State. Two hundred and forty clusters were selected from the rural (farms) and urban (local authorities) black population and eight households were interviewed in each cluster. Information was gathered from 237 rural women (from 959 households) and 168 urban women (from 926 households) who had delivered a baby or aborted during the preceding year. Antenatal care was received by 71 % of the rural women and 87% of the urban women. Rural women delivered at home in 60% of cases while 37% delivered in hospitals. Only 23% of urban women delivered at home while 67% of their deliveries were conducted in hospitals. Nurses supervised deliveries in both instances in more than 60% of cases, but in rural areas traditional midwives managed 26% of the confinements. The conclusions are that the maternity service was largely provided by nurses and was predominantly limited to hospitals and homes. It is recommended that the quality of service be upgraded and more emphasis placed on midwife obstetric units
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Improving learner achievement in South Africa: a policy proposition for a growth mindset approach to enhance learner support at basic education level
HSRC Policy Brief, FebruaryKnowledge of conventional factors influencing learner achievement mainly focuses on tangible factors, such as school resources, teachers' qualifications and experience, class size and language of instruction. Non-conventional factors, such as aspirations, expectations and motivation, are also found to be crucial in driving learner achievement, but have received minimal attention in South Africa's educational policy and practice. In this policy brief, we provide research evidence indicating the need to include these non-conventional factors in policy decisions to improve learning outcomes. We specifically advocate the integration of the 'growth mindset approach' into current education policy, in order to yield better returns on our educational investment. We
suggest that this integration be carried out through professional development programmes at national, provincial and district levels, so that in the near future, current teachers and those entering the teaching profession will have the capability to employ this approach in their teaching practices.
Mapping of water-related ecosystem services in the uMngeni catchment using a daily time-step hydrological model for prioritisation of ecological infrastructure investment – Part 2: Outputs
South Africa is a semi-arid country which frequently faces water shortages, and experienced a severe drought in the 2016 and 2017 rainfall seasons. Government is under pressure to continue to deliver clean water to the growing population at a high assurance of supply. Studies now show that the delivery of water may be sustained not only through built infrastructure such as dams and pipelines, but also through investment in ecological infrastructure (EI). Part 1 of this paper in 2 parts concentrated on the role of EI in delivering water-related ecosystem services, as well as the motivation for this study, and the methods used in modelling and mapping the catchment. Part 2 explores and illustrates the current level of delivery of water-related ecosystem services in different parts of the catchment, with potential hydrological benefits of rehabilitation and protection of EI in the uMngeni catchment. The Mpendle, Lions River, Karkloof, Inanda and Durban sub-catchments are important areas for the generation of streamflows which accumulate downstream (i.e. water yield in the catchment) when annual totals are considered. Modelled annual sediment yield (in tonnes) from naturally vegetated areas is most severe in the lower catchment areas with steeper slopes such as Inanda, and in the high-altitude areas which have both steeper slopes and higher rainfall. The central and eastern parts of the uMngeni catchment were found to contribute the greatest yield of sediment from degraded areas with low protective vegetation cover. This combined modelling and mapping exercise highlighted areas of priority ecosystem service delivery, such as higher altitude grassland areas, which could be recommended for formal conservation, or protection under private partnerships. Generally, these areas confirm the intuitive sense of catchment stakeholders, but provide a robust and more defendable analysis through which water volumes are quantifiable, and potential investment into catchment interventions are justified.Keywords: water, ecosystem services, hydrological modelling, ecological infrastructure, rehabilitatio
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Understanding school effects in South Africa using multilevel analysis: findings from TIMSS 2011
Studies of school effect usually evolve around two major issues; understanding of the factors within schools that explain variation in students achievement levels, and how differences among schools account for the variation in their student' achievement levels. Given the limited studies of school effect research in South Africa, this paper explores how different characteristics of students and school are related to performance. Using the 2011 South African TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) data, the study employs multilevel analysis to identify the most important indicators of successful schools in South Africa. The initial analysis entails the partitioning of the overall variation in students' achievement level in mathematics into within and between schools that allows us to estimate school effects (the extent to which schools make a difference in students' achievement levels). A follow-up analysis involves the addition of student and school characteristics in the multilevel models to profile students and schools that are most successful. The multilevel analysis indicated that differences in schools account for about 62% of the variation in students' achievement levels in mathematics. Students are more successful when they attend schools that are adequately resourced, have teachers that are satisfied with their working conditions and that are specialised in the field of mathematics. The results also show that the attitude of the students toward mathematics has an impact on their performance. The findings demonstrate the need for the South African educational policy makers to continue improving the learning environment of less resourced schools and also encourage teachers to instil a sense value and self-confidence in learning mathematics and to
improve teacher qualification.
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Mathematics and science achievement at South African schools in TIMSS 2003
Mathematics and science are key areas of knowledge for the development of individuals and for the social and economic development of South Africa. In November 2002, about 9000 Grade 8 learners from South African public schools participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This monograph reports on South Africa's performance in TIMSS in relation to the other 50 countries. In addition, the report describes the performance of different groups of learners in South Africa and provides contextual information about, teachers, schools and the curriculum. The report concludes with recommendations for strategic interventions that could contribute to improved performance in mathematics and science. The findings contained in this report offer valuable insights to academics, policymakers, curriculum-planners, teachers and those involved in the development of education in South Africa.