Practical Pedagogy as an Infinite Solution for All Generations’ Developmental Challenges

Theory of education since pre-literate times to contemporary philosophies of education has always emphasized the relevance of practical teaching for sustainable citizenship, communal development and survival. Practical pedagogy is seen by Realists, Pragmatists, Naturalists and Progressivists not only as an essential aspect of schooling but life itself. Practical education is for all times, for, it connects people with reality, above all it is an interdisciplinary learning experience. It is widely accepted that practical pedagogy not only enables skills acquisitions but also leads to greater conceptual understanding. However, whilst there has been much research into relevance of, and factors that affect, practical teaching and learning, there has been limited research into whether teachers really implement practical pedagogy approaches. This study through qualitative theoretical data gathering and analysis provide the present position on practical pedagogy in the current Zimbabwe education system. Findings reveal a wide gap between practice and theory. This gap is attributed to resource constraints and lack of practical teaching knowledge. Other factors include negative teacher attitudes with prioritisation of theory and a limited interest. Zimbabwe curriculum seem not to place central emphasis on pragmatic world view. These factors lead to sustainable development challenges. Given the above findings, it can be recommended that, current Zimbabwe education system should undertake a broadly based audit of existing practice. Zimbabwe education system should be reviewed to explore reduction of theory inclination to allow learners more time on pragmatic knowledge exploration. The study concluded that there is a need to re-examine the aims of Zimbabwe education in order to reaffirm the relevance of practical intelligence for economic and social development. Such a re-examination could draw upon the traditions and practices that underpin many innovative initiatives, past, present and future

Assessment of poultry developments in the Lejweleputswa District within the Free State Province

Published ArticleThe Lejweleputswa district is considered to be the poultry district due to several poultry enterprises which were established in it for the emerging poultry farmers as from the year 2002. Most of the layer and broiler production enterprises are considered unsustainable since 98% of them cannot progressively supply the formal market demand. However, the research need was identified to assess layer and broiler production enterprises as part of coordinated poultry projects planning for sustainable production. Gender, youth, disabled people and the training needs, training received by poultry farmers, available poultry enterprises and housing were also assessed. The aim was to revive them if possible by training the farmers and recommend funding to different funders. The education level of the farmers was looked into. It was found that when electing the representatives of various legal entities for poultry the level of qualification must be considered. Methods such as interviews, meeting, checklists, observations, profiles were used in collecting data. Findings reflected 213 poultry beneficiaries and twenty one poultry enterprises in the Lejweleputswa district. Four percent are with disability whereas 52% are females. This reflects that in poultry production in the district women are more involved than men. Twenty three percent (23%) of the total beneficiaries are youth a clear reflection that youth are inadequately involved in agriculture

Reflections on the Proposed Ndebele–Shona/Shona–Ndebele Dictionary

The master plan of the ALLEX Project includes a Ndebele–Shona/Shona–Ndebele dictionary in its proposed dictionary projects. Bilingual dictionaries are common in Zimbabwe, especially earlier ones with the language pairs English–Ndebele/Shona and vice versa. The pro-posed Ndebele–Shona/Shona–Ndebele dictionary, however, raises some interesting challenges. It will be a different kind of bilingual dictionary in which two African languages, Ndebele and Shona form the language pair. In this article, it will be shown how different dictionary types for both Ndebele and Shona reflect the intentions of Zimbabwean language planners from different periods. A Ndebele–Shona/Shona–Ndebele dictionary, unimaginable to many, raises several questions, among others: Who needs such a dictionary? Who are the target users of such a dictionary? In addressing some of these questions, it will be attempted to show how the proposed Ndebele–Shona/Shona–Ndebele dictionary reflects the language planning needs of present-day Zimbabwe. Keywords: bilingual dictionary, monolingual dictionary, ndebele, shona, ndebele–shona/shona–ndebele dictionary, language planning, language policy, language development, sociolinguistics, attitudes, reference needs, user need

Assessment of poultry developments in the Lejweleputswa District within the Free State Province

The Lejweleputswa district is considered to be the poultry district due to several poultry enterprises which were established in it for the emerging poultry farmers as from the year 2002. Most of the layer and broiler production enterprises are considered unsustainable since 98% of them cannot progressively supply the formal market demand. However, the research need was identified to assess layer and broiler production enterprises as part of coordinated poultry projects planning for sustainable production. Gender, youth, disabled people and the training needs, training received by poultry farmers, available poultry enterprises and housing were also assessed. The aim was to revive them if possible by training the farmers and recommend funding to different funders. The education level of the farmers was looked into. It was found that when electing the representatives of various legal entities for poultry the level of qualification must be considered. Methods such as interviews, meeting, checklists, observations, profiles were used in collecting data. Findings reflected 213 poultry beneficiaries and twenty one poultry enterprises in the Lejweleputswa district. Four percent are with disability whereas 52% are females. This reflects that in poultry production in the district women are more involved than men. Twenty three percent (23%) of the total beneficiaries are youth a clear reflection that youth are inadequately involved in agriculture

Language planning and monolingual dictionaries: with special reference to Ndebele

The first monolingual Ndebele dictionary, Isichazamazwi SesiNdebele, had a number of effects on Ndebele, some of which with implications for language planning. One such language planning activity was the standardization of Ndebele. The article focuses on the standardization of vocabulary and spelling. Lexicographers and most of those interested in lexicographic issues are familiar with the challenges posed by what constitutes the standard vocabulary or the standard meaning of words. These questions were crucial for a general monolingual dictionary like Isicha-zamazwi SesiNdebele. General dictionaries are the standard dictionaries for particular languages, assumed to be reflective of the 'standard usage' of that given language in terms not only of spelling but also of meaning. The Ndebele dictionary is based on a corpus which means that words perceived by some as foreign or as 'bad' language are considered for lemmatization. Problems were also encountered with the spelling of these loanwords. By making decisions on which words to lemmatize and how to spell loanwords, lexicographers become involved in language planning matters. The article draws from the Ndebele dictionary-making experience to discuss the role of monolingual African language dictionaries in language planning in general. Keywords: standardization, general monolingual dictionary, ndebele, loanwords, language planning, spelling, standard, vocabulary, status planning, corpus plannin

The impact of wage-setting institutions on the creation and long-term survival of small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMES) in South Africa

M.Com. (Business Management)The overall aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the wage-setting institutions, including bargaining councils and minimum wages, on the creation and long-term survival of small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa. The objectives of the study focused on (i) gaining an understanding of how the legislative requirements impact on SMMEs; (ii) investigating what needs to be done to assist small companies in order to cope with the burden of compliance with "the prescriptions and provisions of the law; (iii) demonstrating how the current wage setting mechan-isms are partly responsible for the promotion of capital intensive firms at the expense of small- and medium sized entities; (iv) investigating how other countries approach the issue of exemption of small businesses from the stringent requirements of labour legislation; and (v) exploring the possibility for the establishment of a separate dispensation that may be utilised to govern the wage-setting environment for the SMME sector. The study commenced with the review of different literature sources. First, the importance of the SMME sector in wealth creation and the role of the government in developing SMMEs were dealt with. Existing constraints and problems, other than labour-related factors, facing the SMMEs were identified with the sole purpose of highlighting the general conditions under which they operate. The support offered by government and other stakeholders in developing SMMEs in South Africa were also discussed. Second, an overview of wage-setting institutions that shape the South African labour market, i.e. the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), bargaining councils and the Employment Conditions Commission (ECC) was provided. For the purposes of this study, two case studies (i.e. Sweden and Egypt) were chosen and a comparative analysis of these case studies focusing on the wage setting environment was performed, with the hope of drawing important lessons for South Africa. The cross-case analysis revealed that there are differences and similarities in the nature of wage-setting institutions that are found in Sweden, Egypt and South Africa. The lessons for South Africa are that there is a need (i) of strengthening of the role of NEDLAC (tripartism); (ii) of recognising the fact that globalisation is not a myth but a reality, even for SMMEs; (iii) of creating an institutionalised dialogue for the SMME sector, i.e. SMME representative body; and (iv) of expanding the role of workplace forums in the South African environment to facilitate meaningful collective bargaining at local level. Following the cross-case analysis, the research findings on the effects of wage-setting institutions on SMMEs were presented. This was achieved by examining empirical evidence. First, an analysis of collective bargaining and minimum wages was conducted by focusing on the different aspects of the wage-setting institutions that may be considered to have an impact on the creation and long-term survival of small and medium enterprises. This was followed by an exploration of empirical evidence if there is a need for creating a separate dispensation, i.e. two-tier labour market, for the SMME sector in South Africa. Despite an intense scrutiny of the relationship between wage-setting institutions and their effects on SMMEs, the study found that there are no discernible impacts on small and medium businesses. As a result, this study proposes that the policy framework for developing a suitable environment for small and medium businesses in South Africa should be based on targeted strategic policy interventions rather than general measures such as tax reduction or labour market deregulation. These strategic policy interventions are given as recommendations of this study. In concluding the study, the following recommendations are made: • Strengthening of the social dialogue and collective bargaining in South Africa through the expansion of the role of workplace forums; • The establishment of a separate dispensation for SMMEs in South Africa, e.g. two-tier wage system, is not necessary; • A case is made for the establishment of a SMME representative body or bodies, independent of large companies, to collectively represent the interests of smaller businesses in general or in a particular sector of the economy or a geographical area in South Africa; • A need for a shift in small and medium-sized enterprise policy in the South Africa away from "one size fits all" approach to clustering SMMEs in economic sectors that have growth potential; and • SMME policies need to be re-focused to address the economic challenges the country faces due to external competition and globalisation, and this will ensure a more co-ordinated approach to the development of SMME policy in South Africa

The history of the amaHlubi tribe in the izibongo of its kings.

Thesis (M.A.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 1992.Histories of many non-literate societies in Africa have been reconstructed by analysing their oral traditions. This thesis attempts to show that the forgotten history of the amaHlubi Tribe can be re-constructed by analysing imizekeliso (legends), izaga (proverbs), amahubo (songs), izithakazelo (clan-praises) and izibongo (praises). This is discussed in Chapters Two and Three. The historical background of the amaHlubi tribe given in Chapter One is based on the izibongo of the two amaHlubi kings - Bhungane and Langalibalele. The izibongo are the most important genre. This is highlighted in Chapter Four. The izibongo are not only a record of the past of the society and its kings, but they also have social, religious and political significance. In Chapter Four, historicity of the izibongo is discussed. Orality-literacy contrasts are pointed out. The imbongi in the oral culture is compared to a historian in the literate culture. Whilst the imbongi and the historian perform the same function by preserving history, they use different methods when collecting and recording historical data. Finally, Chapter Four attempts to give a critical analysis of the nature and functions of the izibonqo

Learning From Communities' Involvement in the Management of Parks: The Case of Zoo Lake and Thokoza Park, Johannesburg

Planning Honours Research Report 2015, Wits UniversitycommunityToday officials within Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo face the daunting challenge of delivering high quality public spaces that have meanings that are stable enough to accommodate the cultural diversity and social polarisation that are inherent in contemporary Johannesburg. This report examines a recent trend towards joint management of public spaces, where responsibilities are shared between the state and communities interested in these spaces along the lines of what Jones (2010) has called the “Friends of the Park” (FOP). It is argued in this report, with reference to Don Mitchell’s (1995) work with People’s Park in San Diego, that instances where a particular public space is perceived to be in decline are a reflection of contradictions within that public space’s socio-cultural dimension where the introduction of new activities or a new kind of user into the space conflicts with the commonly held meaning of the space. Such a space would thus be characterised by a crisis of meaning. Although the meaning of public space is contested, there is a tendency over time to move towards a stability of meaning, referred to in this report as consensus. While it usually resolves the crisis of meaning, this consensus does not necessarily mean a shift towards justice or towards an equitable end (Castells, 2003). Without making any value judgements on the end result, by studying FOPs’ efforts to engage with the management of parks, this research essentially seeks to understand how actors (members of the community, employees of the state, political activists and others) work towards this kind of consensus. It is noted in this research that an FOP approach risks romanticising participation by thinking of the transition from invented spaces to invited spaces as being organic, natural and perhaps even inevitable; and thereby overlooking the fact that invented spaces today exist in the context of deliberate efforts by planners to mobilise communities for the purpose of absorbing them into the formal planning structure. In the context of neoliberalism it could be said then that such an approach to park management might allow governments to dump their responsibilities on the communities they are meant to serve

Soil management in vegetable gardens in the Eastern Free State and its impact on sustainable production

ThesisThe Free State Province has a population of about 2.9 million people (7% of the national population), growing at 1.5% per annum, with a density of 22 persons per km2. Before 1994, agricultural research and development efforts in South Africa were focused mainly on commercial farmers, neglecting small-scale farmers to a large extent. The challenge now lies in redirecting research and development, as well as extension efforts, to include this new clientele. The areas requiring attention include vegetable gardens in urban and peri-urban areas, small farmers, community farmers and reserve settlement areas (Saunderson, 1995:165-165). This study investigates the vegetable farming practices of small-scale farmers in the Eastem Free State. A questionnaire survey was administered to 30 randomly selected small-scale vegetable farmers. In addition, trials using carrots and potatoes were also conducted in two locations (Mpho and Leratong) to assess the impact of soil compaction on the preparation of seed-beds for vegetable crops. The demographic information collected indicated that the average age of farmers engaged in vegetable farming was 53 years. Most of the respondents (21 %) were in the age group 60 to 69 years. Most of the farmers had occupied the land for less than six years. With regard to the different farming activities described, 58.6% of the farmers had some experience related to agriculture. Of the farmers, 48% had a qualification lower than grade seven. The average size of land allocated for vegetable farining was 3 ha. Of the respondents, 86% planted their vegetable crops in seed-beds, while the rest made no use of seed-beds. Land resting was practised by 69% of the farmers studied. The majority of the farmers (41 %) irrigated their vegetable crop once per day. Mulching was not practised widely by the farmers interviewed. Farmers also indicated that they applied salt to vegetable seedbeds for moisture retention. Based on this information, soil samples were collected from non-salted, recently salted and old salted soils and measured for bulk density and porosity percentage. However, there were no significant differences with regard to both bulk density and porosity percentage between the three soil types measured. There were no Significant differences with regard to carrot length, diameter and mass between the two locations studied. The carrots from the loosened seedbeds were significantly longer (1.7 cm) than the carrots from the compacted seed-beds, while the differences with regard to carrot diameter and mass were not significant. Location as well as compaction had no influence on the mass of the potatoes harvested. In conclusion, this study shows that farmers need training in soil management and modern vegetable production techniques