Systemic School Improvement Interventions in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
School Improvement ◽  
South African ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
North West ◽  
Household Level ◽  
The North ◽  
Improvement Interventions ◽  
Academic Review

Looking at two smaller-scale systemic school improvement projects implemented in selected district circuits in the North West and Eastern Cape by partnerships between government, JET Education Services, and private sector organisations, this book captures and reflects on the experiences of the practitioners involved. The Systemic School Improvement Model developed by JET to address an identified range of interconnected challenges at district, school, classroom and household level, is made up of seven components. In reflecting on what worked and what did not in the implementation of these different components, the different chapters set out some of the practical lessons learnt, which could be used to improve the design and implementation of similar education improvement projects. Many of the lessons in this field that remain under-recorded to date relate to the step-by-step processes followed, the relationship dynamics encountered at different levels of the education system, and the local realities confronting schools and districts in South Africa's rural areas. Drawing on field data that is often not available to researchers, the book endeavours to address this gap and record these lessons. It is not intended to provide an academic review of the systemic school improvement projects. It is presented rather to offer other development practitioners working to improve the quality of education in South African schools, an understanding of some of the real practical and logistical challenges that arise and how these may be resolved to take further school improvement projects forward at a wider district, provincial and national scale.

scholarly journals Rewards: A predictor of well-being and service quality of school principals in the North-West province

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamohelo Nthebe ◽  
Nicolene Barkhuizen ◽  
Nico Schutte
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Total Rewards ◽  
North West Province

Orientation: School principals have an important role to play in the quality of service delivery in schools. Evidence suggests that school principals are generally poorly compensated, which has an adverse impact on their well-being and subsequent service quality orientation.Research purpose: This study investigated whether rewards are a predictor of well-being and service orientation of school principals in the North-West province.Motivation for the study: Effective school principals are fundamental to the success of any school, which necessitates the establishment of an effective reward and remuneration system.Research design, approach and method: Quantitative research was carried out among school principals (N = 155) in four districts of the North-West province. The Total Rewards Scale, Maslach’s Burnout Inventory – General Survey, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the SERVQUAL measure were administered among the principals.Main findings: The results showed that rewards are a significant predictor of the well-being and service quality of school principals. The results further showed that burnout significantly reduces the service quality of school principals. No significant relationships were found between work engagement and the service quality of school principals.Practical/managerial implications: An effective total rewards system enhances the well-being of school principals and, subsequently, their willingness and commitment to delivering quality services.Contribution: The results of this study point out some key elements that need to be considered by the Department of Education to enable quality service delivery in South African schools.

MORE ON THE QUESTION OF RURAL AREAS MULTIFUNCTIONALITY

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2397-2415
Author(s):  
A.I. Kostyaev ◽  
◽  
S.B. Letunov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Functions ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Regional Markets ◽  
Specially Protected Natural Areas ◽  
Protected Natural Areas ◽  
Market Perception ◽  
Market Consequences

The approaches of Russian and foreign scientists to studying rural areas multifunctionality differ significantly. Domestic researchers consider this problem from the standpoint of public goods in agricultural production, agricultural production diversification, rural population livelihoods, land use, and sustainable development of rural areas. In all cases, we are talking about implementation of functions within rural areas without raising the question of buying and selling their intangible attributes. In foreign publications, two pragmatic approaches are seen within the concept of multifunctionality. The first approach is the market perception of rural areas as consumer spaces. In this case, the intangible attributes of the territories (landscape, nature, heritage or culture) are considered as a sold and bought product. The second approach is an approach from the standpoint of protection against negative market consequences in international food trade. The non-productive functions of agriculture are taken into account in the WTO negotiations as non-trade factors. This helps to protect the agriculture of many countries from the destructive effects of foreign trade. The article proposes to move from staged studies of the issue of multifunctionality to a constructive consideration of the material and non-material potential for implementing the rural areas' production and non-production functions. The purpose of the study is to determine the material and non-material basis of rural areas multifunctionality using the example of the North-West of Russia. The objectives of the study are to establish the capabilities of rural areas to perform their functions of: a) the international, b) the federal, c) the regional and d) the local significance; and on the basis of the idea of multifunctionality, to determine the ways for creating consumer spaces in rural areas. The following methods were used: decomposition of goals, the index one, the monographic and the grouping method. We used the materials by: Rosstat, Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Ministry of Culture of Russia. Municipal areas with the orientation of agricultural products to the international, federal and regional markets have been identified. The characteristic of intangible attributes - the carriers of non-production functions of rural areas for the international, federal, regional and local levels - was given. The objects of specially protected natural areas and objects of cultural heritage are considered in accordance with their level of importance. The sequence of forming the consumer spaces in rural areas has been established in the direction from defining a geographical image through creating an image to developing a brand.

scholarly journals Surgical complications of peritoneal dialysis in children with acute kidney failure

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-63
Author(s):  
Dmitrii A. Dobroserdov ◽  
Mikhail V. Shchebenkov ◽  
Alexey L. Shavkin
Keyword(s):  
Renal Failure ◽  
Acute Renal Failure ◽  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Specialized Center ◽  
Uremic Syndrome ◽  
Specialized Department ◽  
Dialysis Complications

The dialysis department of the Childrens City Multidisciplinary Clinical Specialized Center for High Medical Technologies has been operating since 1977 and is the only specialized department in the North-West Region of the Russian Federation that provides assistance to children with both acute and chronic renal failure. Peritoneal dialysis is the treatment of choice for children with acute renal failure, the most common cause of which is hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Despite widely used measures to improve the results of peritoneal dialysis, complications are extremely common. The article analyzes the complications of peritoneal dialysis in children with acute renal failure who were treated in a hospital from 2008 to 2018. The emphasis in the study is on the analysis of complications of peritoneal dialysis, in the treatment of which the surgeon actively participated or should have taken part in. If the problem of acute renal failure is multidisciplinary in the sense that it requires the participation of nephrologists, resuscitators, infectious disease specialists, then if necessary, renal replacement therapy requires the surgeon to become not only a specialist providing access, but also a full-fledged participant in the treatment process. As follows from the foregoing, the surgeons actions depend not only on the quality of dialysis, but also the timeliness and adequacy of treatment of complications, which ultimately improves or worsens the quality of medical care in general.

scholarly journals Disparities in the quality of and access to services in children with autism spectrum disorders: a structural equation modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi ◽  
Kamal Gholipour ◽  
Hassan Shahrokhi ◽  
Ayyoub Malek ◽  
Akbar Ghiasi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Socioeconomic Disparities ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Quality Of Services ◽  
Access To Services ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Children With Asd

Abstract Background Socioeconomic disparities in health and healthcare are global issues that affect both adults as well as children. Children with exceptional healthcare needs, especially those with developmental impairments, including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), encounter major disparities in access to and quality of health services. However, disparities in the population of children are rarely studied. The main aim of this paper is to study the socioeconomic disparities in children with ASD by examining the association between their Social Determinants of Health (SDH) status and access to and the quality of services. Methods This is a cross-sectional study on 202 children with ASD conducted in 2019 in two provinces including Ardabil and East-Azerbaijan, in the North-West of Iran. A structured, valid questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic, SDH status, quality of services, and access to services in a population of children with ASD aged 2–16-year-old. Around 77% participants were male and the mean age of children was 2 years and 6 months. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used to assess the relationship. Results Based on the results of this study, the overall mean scores of the quality of services, access to services, and SDH status were 61.23 (30.01), 65.91 (21.89), and 29.50 (22.32) out of 100, respectively. All the associations between the quality and access dimensions and quality (B: 0.464–0.704) and access (B: 0.265–0.726) scales were statistically significant (P < 0.001). By adjusting to covariates, the access was also significantly related to service quality (P = 0.004). Finally, the associations between SDH score with service quality (P = 0.039) and access (P < 0.001) were positively significant. Conclusions There are socioeconomic disparities in the quality of and access to services among children with ASD, who use ASD services, in the North-West of Iran. We recommend health/medical centers, where children are diagnosed with ASD, conducting SDH screening and providing families of low-SDH status with specific information about the quality of and access to services for children with ASD. Additionally, medical universities must have a plan to routinely monitor the quality of and access to services provided for the children with low SDH.

scholarly journals Indigenous healers in the North West province: A survey of their clinical activities in health care in the rural areas

Curationis ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Shai-Mahoko
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Random Sample ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Simple Random Sample ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Clinical Conditions

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical conditions brought to indigenous healers by people in the rural areas in search of health care. The demographic variables and preventive, promotive, curative and follow-up activities of indigenous healers were investigated. Data were collected from a simple random sample of 35 indigenous healers. A questionnaire designed by Mogoba (1984) for investigation of training and functioning of traditional doctors in Southern Africa was modified and used to collect data.

Walkabove VSP with seismic-while-drilling technology: flawless operation in a highly deviated well

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 454
Author(s):  
Adrian Cristian Sanchez Rodriguez ◽  
Leon Dahlhaus ◽  
Konstantin Galybin ◽  
Andrew Vigor ◽  
Grant Skinner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Profile ◽  
Geological Structure ◽  
Surface Source ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Bottom Hole ◽  
Surface Time ◽  
Drilling Technology ◽  
Bottom Hole Assembly

SWD was recently used in the North West Shelf of Australia to acquire time-depth measurements and to obtain a vertical seismic profile (VSP) while pulling out of hole. The use of SWD technology greatly enhanced the understanding of geology by acquiring a more precise geophysical picture of the subsurface, leading to better understanding of the subsurface and placement of wells in the future. A vertical incidence VSP was acquired in an offshore deviated well for a client on the Australian North West Shelf. The data was acquired using a moving-surface source, suspended from a boat, and a four-component downhole sensor in the bottom hole assembly (BHA). The downhole data was acquired using three orthogonal geophones and a single hydrophone measurement at each VSP level. This was recorded while pulling out of hole, and processed once the tool was on surface. Time picking accuracy of the downhole data is ±0.5 ms with the frequency range 6–90Hz, both comparable to Wireline. The repeatability of the hydrophone and geophone time picks was also excellent with the average difference being 0.2 ms and maximum 0.8 ms. High resolution VSP images beneath the well in addition to corridor stacks were derived from the geophone and hydrophone data, showing the geological structure of the reservoir. The quality of the data acquired allowed the client to remove the need for a wireline VSP run; it, therefore, saved significant rig time and costs associated with it, reduced the chances of getting stuck, and significantly reduced the seismic uncertainty.

scholarly journals Funksionele meertaligheid in Suid-Afrika: 'n onbereikbare ideaal?

Literator ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Verhoef
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Final Report ◽  
North West ◽  
African Languages ◽  
The North ◽  
Mother Tongue Instruction ◽  
Education Act ◽  
Regional Languages

Functional multilingualism in South Africa: an unattainable ideal? Although much has been done on an official level to establish true multilingualism in South Africa, a tendency towards English monolingualism seems to exist in the country. The aim of this article is to describe the official stipulations in pursuit of multilingualism, as they appear in the Constitution (Act 108 of 1996), the School Act (Act 84 of 1996) and the final report of Langtag. In addition to the present demands, the article also responds to previous demands for multilingualism in the South African context, particularly as stated in the Bantu Education Act of 1953. It is argued that, because of the negative connotations associated with mother-tongue instruction in the past, contemporary mother-tongue instruction will also be contaminated. Apart from the theoretical investigation into multilingualism, the article reports on empirical research that has been done in this regard in the North West Province where the attitudes and perceptions of the school population towards the regional languages were measured. Although the subjects reacted positively to the official status granted to several South African languages, they expressed a preference for English as working language because of the access it gives to personal, economic and social development and empowerment. The article concludes with brief recommendations regarding language planning opportunities that derive from this situation.

scholarly journals Spoilage and microbial quality of crude palm oil from the North-west Region of Cameroon

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 304-312
Author(s):  
Alima Senkoh Ngangjoh ◽  
Niba Aziwo Tatanja ◽  
Aba Richard Ejoh
Keyword(s):  
Palm Oil ◽  
Microbial Quality ◽  
Crude Palm Oil ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
West Region

scholarly journals Obesity in African women in the North West Province, South Africa is associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases: the THUSA study

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 733-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. Kruger ◽  
C. S. Venter ◽  
H. H. Vorster
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽  
South African ◽  
Fasting Glucose ◽  
Hdl Cholesterol ◽  
African Women ◽  
North West ◽  
The North

The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between anthropometric measurements and risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD) in South African black women. A cross-sectional sample of 1040 apparently healthy black female volunteers, 15–70 years old, was recruited from thirty-seven randomly selected sites in the North West Province, stratified according to level of urbanisation. We analysed the association between BMI, waist:hip (WHR), waist circumference (WC) and skinfold measurements and the following risk factors for NCD: blood pressure, serum lipids, fasting serum glucose and insulin and plasma fibrinogen, by using age-adjusted correlation analyses and stepwise regression analysis. Of the subjects, 28·6 % were obese (BMI>30). After adjustment for age and smoking status, BMI correlated significantly with diastolic blood pressure (r0·21,P=0·037), serum triacylglycerols (TG) (r0·30,P=0·003), fasting glucose (r0·29,P=0·005) and log fasting insulin (r0·24,P=0·02). There was a significant negative correlation between BMI and HDL-cholesterol (r-0·38,P<0·001). Similar but stronger correlations were found between both WC and WHR and these risk factors. Together with age, WC was a significant predictor of TG, HDL-cholesterol and fasting glucose in regression analysis, while subscapular skinfold was a significant predictor of diastolic blood pressure and fasting glucose concentration. Triceps skinfold was a significant predictor of total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, plasma fibrinogen and the insulin sensitivity index. Measures of obesity, particularly WC, are associated with the risk for NCD in black South African women, in which a high rate of obesity has been found.

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