The Integration of Technical Subjects in Civil Technology Curriculum with Special Reference to Further Education and Training(FET) Technical Schools

Published ArticleThis study aimed at investigating the extent to which Civil Technology Teachers understand and implement Curriculum. The research used qualitative and quantitative methodology to collect data, questionnaires and interviews were used as instruments to collect data. The sample of the study consisted of 21 Civil Technology teachers from 18 Technical schools from 5 education districts in the Free State. Teachers revealed that majority of respondents indicated that Department of Education (DoE) failed to offer formal training on the new Civil Technology Curriculum, but received one week workshops. They regarded Civil Technology as a subject developed for high level of knowledge and skills. Teachers recommended that the Department of Education should provide a full training course on the new understanding and implementation of Civil Technology Curriculum in Free State Schools in South Africa

Investigating Factors Contributing To Learner Performance in Mathematics: A Case Study of Some Selected Schools in Motheo District

Published ArticleThis study investigated factors contributing to learner performance in mathematics in some selected schools in Motheo District. Three schools made up of – one secondary school (in Mangaung); two secondary schools (in Botshabelo) in Motheo District. Seven educators from each school comprising of three male and three female educators teaching mathematics and one head of department for mathematics were sampled from the population. A quantitative research method has been used to gather data regarding factors that contributes towards learner performance. Factors are: the attitudes of learners towards mathematics; the use of English; and experience of teachers; the resources provided by the department of education and also the support from learner’s parents. It has been found that learners are demotivated by their parents and peers saying that mathematics is the difficult subject which needs clever people. In conclusion teachers and parents must be actively involved in the education of learners

The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator: development and validation of a tool for identifying African surgical patients at risk of severe postoperative complications

Background: The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) showed that surgical patients in Africa have a mortality twice the global average. Existing risk assessment tools are not valid for use in this population because the pattern of risk for poor outcomes differs from high-income countries. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a simple, preoperative risk stratification tool to identify African surgical patients at risk for in-hospital postoperative mortality and severe complications. Methods: ASOS was a 7-day prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery in Africa. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator was constructed with a multivariable logistic regression model for the outcome of in-hospital mortality and severe postoperative complications. The following preoperative risk factors were entered into the model; age, sex, smoking status, ASA physical status, preoperative chronic comorbid conditions, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. Results: The model was derived from 8799 patients from 168 African hospitals. The composite outcome of severe postoperative complications and death occurred in 423/8799 (4.8%) patients. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator includes the following risk factors: age, ASA physical status, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. The model showed good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805 and good calibration with c-statistic corrected for optimism of 0.784. Conclusions: This simple preoperative risk calculator could be used to identify high-risk surgical patients in African hospitals and facilitate increased postoperative surveillance. © 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Medical Research Council of South Africa gran