scholarly journals Initiatives in Astronomy Education in South Africa

2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-130
Author(s):  
Case L. Rijsdijk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Science Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
School Level ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Large Telescope ◽  
Astronomy Education ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Education Initiative

AbstractA brief review of the issues affecting the current status of science education in general, and astronomy education in particular, is given. The paper looks at the present situation at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. South Africa has unique educational problems and the initiatives by local observatories and universities at school level are described. The problems encountered by the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) Science Education Initiative (SEI) are typical, as is the SEI approach to addressing some of these. The experience of the SEI is described, as are some of the resources developed by them for primary and secondary schools. Finally a brief look is taken at future developments, in particular, ways in which the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) can contribute to astronomy and science education.

scholarly journals Using Astronomy as a Vehicle for Science Education

2000 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Case Rijsdijk
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Astronomical Observatory ◽  
Large Telescope ◽  
The South ◽  
African Government ◽  
Educational Structure ◽  
Interest In Science ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Education Initiative

AbstractRecent history in South Africa has created unique problems in many areas. As a result of an unequal educational structure, particularly in science, there is a general lack of science literacy and awareness. Some years ago the South African Astronomical Observatory started a Science Education Initiative as a contribution to addressing this problem by using astronomy as a vehicle to stimulate an interest in science amongst teachers and students. This programme was given a boost by the South African government in 1998 and the construction of the Southern African Large Telescope will provide further stimulus to the Science Education Initiative.

scholarly journals Astronomy Education: The Current Status in Zambia

2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-45
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Munyeme ◽  
Peter C. Kalebwe
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Space Science ◽  
School Level ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Priority List ◽  
Astronomy Education ◽  
Employment Needs ◽  
Physics Department ◽  
The University

AbstractThere are many interlocking factors determining the introduction of astronomy education in Zambia. The process of infusing this new subject into an education system so centralised as that of Zambia is extremely complex. At school level the process is more complex than at university level, as all syllabuses are developed by a central body, Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) whose priorities are determined by perceived social and economic needs of the country. The prevailing notion in Zambia is that astronomy has no direct bearing on future employment needs. It is therefore not surprising that astronomy is at the bottom of the priority list among school subjects. The recent upsurge of interest in astronomy at the University of Zambia opens up the necessary background for developing astronomy in both school and university curricula. The University has recently formed the Astronomical Society and the Working Group on Space Science in Zambia. Coupled to this are exchange visits and collaborative work between the Physics Department of the University of Zambia and the South-African Astronomical Observatory. In this paper we present a review of the current activities in space science in Zambia and how they relate to the development of astronomy education.

Is Decentralisation a Suitable Response to Improve South African Rural Education?

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 211-224
Author(s):  
Kevin Teise ◽  
Emma Barnett
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Education ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
South African ◽  
School Level ◽  
High Quality ◽  
African Education ◽  
Departments Of Education ◽  
South African Education ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency

South Africa (SA) has a decentralised education system. It is generally assumed that decentralisation improves the effectiveness and efficiency of education by responding to the needs, values, and expectations of both local and rural communities. A large part of SA could be described as rural and a large number of learners attend rural schools. This makes rural education a significant part of the South African education context. With education being decentralised, and with decentralisation being heralded as the panacea to the problems faced by rural communities as well as rural education, the assumption is that rural education should be of a high quality. This desk-top paper assesses the potential of decentralisation to improve the quality and effectiveness of South African rural education. This it does by locating decentralisation within neoliberalism which this paper argues is the impetus behind the decentralisation of South African education, and the reason for the decline in the quality and effectiveness of rural education. The paper also highlights certain tensions between the various decentralised spheres of governance, namely the central and provincial Departments of Education and school-level governance structures. The paper further indicates how these tensions potentially hamper the effectiveness and efficiency of rural education. The paper concludes with some recommendations aimed at improving rural education.

scholarly journals Paradigmas en progressie in die teologie: ’n Perspektief op die RGN-kongres van April 1988

1989 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Dimensional Reduction ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Human Sciences ◽  
The South ◽  
African Theology ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
The Press

Paradigms and progress in theology: A perspective on the HRSC conference of April 1988 The title refers to a conference believed to be the first interdisciplinary meeting on said theme in South Africa held under the auspices of the South African Human Sciences Research Council in Pretoria last year. Future developments in this field may prove it a major happening in South African theology and methodology yet. An anthology of selected papers read appeared from the press recently. This article contains a number of abstracts made from the book and brief discussions of papers thus abstracted. A basic hesitancy pertaining to the meaning and encompass of the concept ‘paradigm’ as well as a widespread uncertainty regarding theology’s accountability towards science are noted. Fears of dimensional reduction are expressed.

Education Through Music: Towards A South African Approach

1993 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-261
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Oehrle
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Music Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Intercultural Education ◽  
Western Music ◽  
African Music ◽  
Paradoxical Situation ◽  
Music Making

Music making in Africa has been, and is, an essential aspect of living. The philosophy and process of music making in South African schools bares no relevance to this idea. The present situation is that South African music educators are propagating western music education methods, while so-called ‘western’ music educators are turning to Africa to find answers to their perplexing problems. This paradoxical situation highlights the importance of evolving a philosophy and process of intercultural education through music for South Africa which draws upon research into music making in Africa.

scholarly journals Is It Time For a Coherent Political Question Doctrine in South Africa? Lessons from the United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mtendeweka Mhango
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Status ◽  
The Political ◽  
Early Application ◽  
Comparative Examination ◽  
Political Question ◽  
Insight Into

This article describes the development and current status of the political question doctrine theme in South African jurisprudence. It does this through a comparative discussion of the application of this doctrine in the United States. The purpose of this comparative examination is twofold: the first is to gain insight into the origins, trends and early application of the political question doctrine. The second is to gain insight into the challenges and best practices in relation to the application of the political question doctrine elsewhere. The paper argues that while the political question doctrine theme exists in South African jurisprudence, this has not matured into a clear and transparent doctrine. It calls for the development of a clear doctrine for South Africa and offers some recommendations.

scholarly journals The south african environment and the 1996 Constitution

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis J. Kotzé
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
South African ◽  
The South ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
The Republic

This study brings the debate upon environmental protection in the Republic of South Africa since the 1996 Constitution enactment which conformed it as a justifiable human right. The contribution begins with some considerations about (in) the development of the environmental right. The more pertinent constitutional provisions related to the environment are discussed, and there are some remarks about future developments in this field.

scholarly journals Strength and conditioning practices of high school rugby coaches: A South African context

2019 ◽  
Vol 115 (9/10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley Robinson ◽  
Lee Pote ◽  
Candice Christie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
High School ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
South African ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Weight Lifting ◽  
School Level ◽  
High School Level ◽  
Strength And Conditioning

Although rugby union as a sport is well established, the strength and conditioning practices of high school level players are not well known. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine the current strength and conditioning practices that coaches implement at South African high school level rugby. A secondary purpose was to compare practices between high schools of different socio-economic status in South Africa. An online survey or in person interview (depending on the school) was conducted and 43 responses were received: from 28 coaches at schools among the top 100 rugby schools in South Africa for 2016 and from 15 coaches at no-fee public schools in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Most coaches (72%) performed some form of physical testing, with the most common parameter tested being ‘speed’. The most common strength and conditioning practices utilised included flexibility (stretching), speed (free sprinting), agility (cone drills), plyometric (box drills) and resistance (weight lifting) training. Unlike the no-fee schools, the top 100 rugby schools implemented conditioning practices similar to best-known international practices. Furthermore, no-fee school coaches did not have the qualifications necessary to administer the correct training techniques. Education and upskilling on the best strength and conditioning practices for school level coaches need to be improved, particularly in less privileged schools. Such improvement is crucial to the transformation goals set out by the South African Rugby Union, which would benefit from player development in lower socio-economic schools.

Advancing Forensic Nursing in South Africa: A matter of Stamina and Resilience

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanette Mmabosa Sebaeng ◽  
Sinegugu E Duma
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Forensic Nursing ◽  
Conference Paper ◽  
Clinical Competencies ◽  
Nursing Science ◽  
Clinical Nursing ◽  
Victims Of Crime

Advancing a non-existing specialisation in nursing care requires strong leadership, resilience and total commitment to patient care and to the nursing profession. These were the hard lessons that we learned over almost three decades in our endeavours for the advancement of forensic nursing as a formally recognised clinical nursing specialisation in South Africa. This article is a conference paper presented at the International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science, October 2016 in Denver – Colorado and it provides the professional and personal battles experienced by the forensic nurses in advancing forensic nursing practice in South Africa. The presentation conclude by highlighting the current status and achievements of forensic nurses’ resilience and perseverance in advancing forensic nursing which include the establishment of the Association for Forensic Nurses in South Africa, the development and recognition of clinical competencies for clinical forensic nursing by the South African Nursing Council, books authored by forensic nurses and continuous professional development activities conducted in different provinces of South Africa to benefit South African Forensic Nursing Association (SAFNA) members and improve forensic nursing practice and healthcare of the victims of crime and violence. These hard lessons were shared as encouragement to other forensic nurses from countries where forensic nursing is not yet recognised.

scholarly journals Present-Day Dillemas And Challenges Of The South African Tertiary System

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Mouton ◽  
G. P. Louw ◽  
G. L. Strydom
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Education System ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
School Level ◽  
First Year ◽  
Exit Point ◽  
The South ◽  
Higher Education System

The Education White Paper 3 on Higher Education aimed to transform the higher education system. Change within tertiary education included adjusting the size and shape of institutions, the meaning of autonomy and accountability, the nature of higher education, the character of student demographic distribution, management and governance, roles of student politics, models of delivery, the notion of higher education in terms of the relationship between free trade and public good, programme changes and the nature of the academic workplace. At this stage, transformation in higher education is leaping outwards to fulfil the criteria set by international competitiveness and related efficiency criteria that can be attributed to globalisation pressures and to deeper factors inherent in the nature of higher education, especially in terms of its resistance to change and modernization. In this regard, the tertiary higher education system in South Africa is faced with many multi-dimensional challenges that need to be addressed in this article. This includes stating whether Grade 12 results as the outcome of this exit point at school level are, internationally speaking, a reasonable predictor of first-year academic success at university. In South Africa, there is no benchmarking of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination; therefore, first-year students have difficulty in adapting to the university environment as they find themselves devoid of indispensable bases for the pursuit of their studies and the weakness of the level of education given at school level in a large number of instances. Furthermore, five universities were placed under administration in the 2011-2012 period because of appallingly poor levels of management, which adds extra layers of suspicion to the notion of the impact of higher education in South Africa. Many other challenges are facing the South African tertiary education system, which will be analysed and recommendations arrived at that will attempt to contribute to an enhancement of tertiary education in South Africa.

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