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Item Open Access Lifeskills training for children with problem and deviant behaviour: the Noupoort Youth and CommunityDevelopment Project(University of the Free State, 2008) Steyn, FrançoisEnglish: This article describes the development, implementation and outcomes of two community-based lifeskills programmes in Noupoort for children with troubled behaviour. Results show that approximately one out of every five children re-engaged in misconduct or criminal behaviour following participation in the programmes. Continued offending occurred predominantly in property-linked crimes. This indicates a need for improved assessments and alternative or additional support for some of the participants. Although most parents/guardians of referred children valued the programmes, practice indicates that it is difficult to secure their involvement. The study includes descriptions of comparative situations from South Africa and international evidence in respect of intervention with troubled behaviour of children.Item Open Access Studiestaking aan landbou-opleidingsinstellings: waarskynlike oorsake en moontlike strategieë vir studente-ondersteuning(University of the Free State, 2008) Louw, Alwyn; Eli, BitzerEnglish: Student dropout in South Africa increasingly receives attention as approximately one quarter of students admitted to higher education institutions discontinue their studies during the first year. This investigation aimed to determine why students discontinue or extend their studies. Using a qualitative approach and in-depth interviews, data was generated from seventeen students who dropped out from four acgriculture training institutions. Findings indicate that dropout can be attributed mainly to academic and/ or social factors. These factors prevent adequate learning integration, essential to studying successfully. Various factors appear to be responsible for inadequate academic integration while ineffective social integration could be the result of too little or unbalanced and unhealthy social activities. A theoretical framework is proposed that could offer improved understanding and prevention of student dropout.Item Open Access Discipline and disciplinary measures in the Free State township schools: unresolved problems(University of the Free State, 2008) Masitsa, GilbertEnglish: This article is based on a study of discipline and disciplinary measures in township schools. It is widely acknowledged that discipline is essential for creating a positive school climate conducive to sound academic performance. Numerous township schools are experiencing increasing incidents of poor discipline which impact negatively on their students’ academic performance. A survey conducted among teachers imputes the escalation of learner misbehaviour to the abolition of corporal punishment. The sample for this study was randomly selected from teachers of township primary and secondary schools and the study employed a quantitative research method. The method comprised a questionnaire used to gather data which were computer-analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Primer Version 12. The study concludes with recommendations to address these topical issues in South Africa.Item Open Access Unique outcomes in professional psychology training through an adventure experience(University of the Free State, 2008) Human, LourensEnglish: This article focuses on how an adventure programme can be used to address professional development in general, and specifically the professional identity of postgraduate psychology students. The literature study focuses on didactic instruction as well as experiential learning and adventure-based experiential learning. The study was undertaken from a narrative position and narrative analysis was done of postgraduate psychology students’ narratives. From the narrative analysis it would seem that the adventure programme created unique outcomes for the students, as their narratives changed from narratives with an individualist character to narratives with more collective tendencies as the adventure programme unfolded.Item Open Access Transformasie en die regbank: onafhanklikheid in gedrang?(University of the Free State, 2008) Van Coller, HelenaEnglish: The transformation of South Africa’s judiciary is necessary and inevitable. This paper seeks to explain and discuss the concept of political transformation and its role in this process. It also seeks to establish whether a legitimate administration of justice that is efficient, accessible, accountable, just and representative of the South African community can be maintained, in the spirit of the Constitution and through a democratic process of transformation. The question is not whether transformation should occur, but what steps should be taken to ensure that transformation processes are effective, transparent and respect the independence of the judiciary.Item Open Access A baseline assessment of Department of Health partnerships with non-profit organisations(University of the Free State, 2008) Peltzer, Karl; Phaswana-Mafuya, Nancy; Ramlagan, ShandirEnglish: A baseline assessment was conducted in five provinces participating in the Partnership for the Delivery of Primary Health Care Programme. It included district analysis; government capacity to manage partnerships with non-profit organisations (NPOs); NPO access, capacity and quality, and home-based care (HBC). Most districts had contracts with NPOs, identified delivery gaps to be filled by NPOs and the need to improve the management capacity of NPOs. Government capacity to manage partnerships with NPOs seemed generally sub-optimal. Partnership between NPOs and government was positive with weaknesses in rergard to funding and training. The quality of NPO service was overall satisfactory. Home-based care reported the need to improve patients’ hygiene and the prevention of infection.Item Open Access The influence of job-related factors on work engagement of staff at the University of the Free State(University of the Free State, 2008) Van den Berg, Henriette; Manias, Dominique; Burger, SandriEnglish: The management of the University was in need of information regarding work wellness of the employees of the University. Therefore a study was launched to investigate the influence of job-related factors on the work engagement of university staff. A conveniency sample, comprising 708 academic and support staff members working in a higher education institution, was used. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the Job Characteristics Scale were used as measuring instruments. Data was processed with the aid of hierarchical regression analyses. The results indicated a moderate to high level of work engagement amongst university staff. Job-related stressors experienced by participants included a high workload, poor remuneration, increased home-work interference, and insufficient physical resources. The variables included explained 45.17% of the variance in absorption, 39.28% of the variance in vigour, and 33.66% of the variance in dedication. This indicates that many other factors, apart from the work-related factors included in this study, play an important role in the determination of employees’ work engagement.Item Open Access An investigation into the determinants of the South African unemployment rate, 1970-2002(University of the Free State, 2008) Schoeman, Christie; Blaauw, Derick; Pretorius, AnmarEnglish: From 1970 to 1977 unemployment in South Africa oscillated around a near-constant mean. Since 1983 unemployment has shown a definite upward trend defying the existence of a long-run natural rate. South African unemployment data exhibits signs of hysteresis, suggesting that long-run unemployment is endogenously determined. Empirical results confirm that the total fixed capital stock, interest rate and degree of unionisation of the labour force are important factors in explaining the unemployment rate in South Africa. This implies that long-run equilibrium unemployment in South Africa is endogenously determined by economic as well as institutional factors.Item Open Access Student/learner discipline and bullying: a comparative analysis of legal risk management in schools in Australia and South Africa(University of the Free State, 2008) Rossouw, J. P.; Stewart, DougEnglish: This article briefly discusses some legal determinants that influence education in Australia and South Africa, respectively. It is evident that schools whose hierarchy members fail to take the necessary steps to ensure a non-threatening environment may be held liable if negligence can be proven. The focus is therefore on principles and procedures regarding the management of learner discipline, with specific reference to bullying. The article concludes with an analysis of qualitative data from a research project into learner discipline in Australia and South Africa, and a comparison of the respective risk management strategies.Item Open Access Balancing rights in education: applying the proportionality test(University of the Free State, 2008) Smit, MariusEnglish: Educators and learners know that they are entitled to the protection of their rights, but are uncertain to what degree this protection extends. Fundamental rights are not absolute and may be limited by the rights of others, by laws of general application and by the definitional parameters of rights as described in the Constitution. This article explains the process of applying the balancing of fundamental rights in terms of the proportionality test of the general limitation clause (section 36) of the Constitution. Other non-fundamental rights are also limitable in terms of the principles of South African law. Court cases in the education setting are discussed illustrating examples of conflicting rights in schools. Such situations are opportunities for educators to apply the Constitution in the classroom by teaching learners a set of values consistent with the Bill of Rights.Item Open Access Batemobilisering as strategie vir die hantering van MIV/VIGS(University of the Free State, 2008) Ferreira, Ronèl; Ebersöhn, Liesel; Loots, TildaEnglish: This article reports on the findings of an empirical study aimed at empowering ten selected educators to mobilise potential yet unused assets within a community, in order to support that community in coping with HIV/AIDS. Despite numerous studies on various aspects of HIV/AIDS, limited research is currently undertaken on intervention strategies, especially within communities facing the challenge. The application of the asset-based approach is explored, against the background of community- based coping. It is argued that asset mobilisation can indeed be regarded as a viable strategy for coping with HIV/AIDS. Findings reveal empowerment of individuals (the participants), of the school where the study was undertaken, as well as of other community members.Item Open Access What is wrong with current theorisations of ‘boredom’?(University of the Free State, 2008) Ally, MashuqEnglish: This article examines theoretical attempts to focus attention on the much-neglected phenomenon of “boredom” and evaluate the extent to which the theorists succeed in illuminating it. It is argued that cognitively important aspects of boredom are ignored by these theorists and suggest ways in which such shortcomings in the treatment of boredom may be addressed in future studies.Item Open Access Humanising research: the cares that drive researchers(University of the Free State, 2008) Hurst, AdreaEnglish: This article reflects on the provenance of “research” in Heideggerian “care,” and the nature of care as a complex of “cares” (interests/passions). We become researchers because care (concern for the future) fundamentally characterises our being. While care ensures that research becomes a never-ending “hermeneutic circle,” this only compromises research results if we remain unaware of its nature and uncritical of its effects. To specify its nature I identify particular cares (interests/passions) by means of Habermas’ account of the technical, practical/ethical, and emancipatory interests motivating research. Using Lacanian psychoanalytical theory I then map the multiple conflicting notions within each area of interest in terms of three future-orientated passions: “nihilism”, “narcissism” and “altruism”. The aim of this synthesis is an adequately complex framework for reflecting on our research passion.