Delineating Government Policies and Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation

ABSTRACT The South African government, like other countries, has put in place a variety of support measures to aid potential entrepreneurs and existing entrepreneurs to expand their operations. It is unclear, to what extent understanding of these support measures impacts individual entrepreneurial orientation propensities (IEO). The study objective was to investigate the impact of government policy on IEO propensities of risk-taking, innovativeness and proactiveness to engage in entrepreneurial activity, from a systems analysis perspective. The research was carried out using mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative data). The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) from Smart PLS 3.0 software was employed to analyse the data. The study was limited to 235 entrepreneurs from various towns, cities, and settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa who were present at Minara Chamber of Commerce Women’s Conference. The findings showed that government policy impact IEO propensities to engage in entrepreneurial activities.

Restoring Inclusive Education: Paradigm Shift from a Medical to a Social Model among Learners with Disability

ABSTRACT This paper outlines a critical analysis of the paradigm shift from a medical to a social model, using the key concepts impacting on learners with disabilities in a schooling system. The social constructionist perspective and the social model provide a conceptual frame for examining disability and inclusive education. Inclusive education is significant for its multidimensional nature and lack of universal definition. The two main issues concerning scholars and interest groups are the lack of access to learning by learners with disability and the confining nature of disability. Despite the acceptance of inclusive education globally, the evidence in the literature suggests many limitations in broadening access to education for all. The paper found that there is an interplay of various aspects relating to inclusive education, namely the historical context and the education system, the capacity for the implementation of inclusive education, a policy framework, infrastructure and resources coordination, and a culture of inclusive education.

Teaching and Learning of Accounting: In-service Educators Experiences in the Context of a South African University

ABSTRACT This study sought to explore teaching and learning of accounting: in-service educators’ experiences in the context of a South African University. The study employs a qualitative research approach using a case study design. Ten accounting teachers were purposively selected. The findings revealed that accounting resources used for teaching and learning of accounting were not related to an accountancy education. Also, some accounting lecturers at university were found to be unprofessional and not committed to their work, with many using local languages when teaching. The authors recommend that new accounting lecturers at the South African university be mentored by their senior counterparts. Until the situation improves, students should be encouraged to voice their dissatisfaction with what happens in the lecture halls.

Bricolising Retired Teachers in South Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

ABSTRACT This paper interrogates the challenges and opportunities related to re-engaging retired teachers in mainstream curriculum practice in South Africa. Some rural schools report poor performance, whereas retired teachers in their locality could help to mitigate this challenge. The paper used bricolage as a theoretical lens, because of its emphasis on using available resources to address ambivalence. The qualitative paper responds to two questions: What are the challenges facing integration of retired teachers? and How could retired teachers assist to mitigate poor performance? The paper found that many retired teachers are still active and can assist with mentoring and teaching and learning; however, there is no policy framework to guide their re-engagement. The paper argues that South Africa should tap into best practices of retired teachers through formulation of a policy framework that ensures the knowledge of retired teachers is not wasted, but harvested to address various trajectories, including poor performance.

Enhancing Children’s Critical and Inquisitive Skills in Culturally Informed Communities of South Africa

ABSTRACT Evidence exists that young learners in culturally inclined communities of South Africa lack critical thinking and inquisitive skills. These learners are assumed to be culturally beguiled into believing that it is an abomination to question elders, and those who did so are tagged rabbles. Therefore, this study used the perspectives of community elites to expose the challenges young children/young one’s face in gaining critical and inquisitive skills along with possible solutions. The study is underpinned by Sociocultural Theory within the transformative paradigm. The study was designed using participatory research and unstructured interview to elicit information from the participants. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that children/young ones are being demonised as rebels, and stereotyped as uncultured, untrained and disrespectful, hence deprived of skill development. The study recommends organisational advocacy and curriculum restructuring, alongside strong school advocacy and awareness towards children/young ones’ skill development.

Developing and Applying Classroom Rules: Foundation Phase Teachers’ Perspectives

The Foundation Phase is a transitional stage from pre-school to formal schooling, especially Grade 1. The learners are often less familiar with the formal schooling space, making mistakes that teachers often regard as challenging and destructive behaviours. Therefore, this paper discusses in depth how the chosen Grade 1 educators create the rules in their classrooms and apply them. The research uses a qualitative approach to consider the experiences of teachers on creating and applying the learners’ rules. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with three teachers from Grade 1 who agreed to participate in the study. Thematic data analysis was used to analyze the data. The study found that there is often a disparity between the learners’ identities and the expectations of the teacher. This includes teachers treating young children as a homogeneous group who need to adjust to formal school programmes and not vice versa.

Managing Social Studies Education Curriculum for National Development

This study focuses on the roles of the social studies education curriculum in addressing national development in Nigeria. It examines the existing social studies curriculum viz-a-viz its roles in national development and challenges faced by social studies teachers in its implementation. The study advocates that learners should be taught the skill of problem-solving, critical thinking, moral and character education at the early stage of life for self-development of the learner and eventual national development. Nigerian society is the focus of this study. The paper concludes that the young ones are the instrument for national development; Nigeria can attain national development if they acquire the right types of skills (problem-solving skills), values, and attitudes. Part of the recommendations made was that government should set up a conference of curriculum experts to review the social studies curriculum in line with the current realities like insecurity, kidnapping, and other vices amongst others.

Expansion of Higher Education in South Africa: Problems and Possibilities

The objective of this paper is to examine the expansion of higher education in South Africa, problems associated with it and how it will inform future trends in higher education in the country. To accomplish the objectives of this paper, a qualitative research approach was adopted which allowed for the review of literature that spoke to the title. It was observed that South Africa has been struggling to respond effectively to the expansion of higher education. The expansion of higher education has no doubt affected the quality of education offered, more so, courses offered by higher education institutions seem not to align with market demands, thus increasing the unemployment of graduates. This paper concluded that while greater participation in higher education is welcomed, the country ought to invest in higher education development by constructing new universities and colleges, ensuring more favourable student to staff ratio, and increasing the involvement of the private sector to mitigate the effects of the expansion.

Cultural Reproduction in the Socio-political Context of Bone District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study aims to reveal the phenomenon of cultural reproduction in local politics in Bone Regency. Cultural reproduction in question is the maintenance of traditional cultural patterns carried out by the aristocrats amid the current socio-political changes that occur. This research is descriptive using qualitative research methodology. Data collection techniques were carried out through observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and literature reviews. The data analysis technique was carried out through the stages of data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawing. The results showed that cultural reproduction in local politics was constructed from two aspects, namely: (1) the existence of a transition in the local government system, and (2) the failure of local political parties in political regeneration. Through these two social processes, cultural reproduction occurs where cultural elites (aristocrats) always exist on the stage of local power. This study concludes that cultural reproduction in the realm of local politics occurs due to historical impulses in the transition of the government system and the failure of political parties to build public awareness of the principles of open democracy.

The Plight of Street Children and Juvenile Delinquency in Urban Tanzania: A Review of Literature

ABSTRACT Tanzania as a developing country has been experiencing worsening impacts of the street children phenomenon in practically all its rapidly growing urban areas. Based on the review of literature, the causes of street children include general poverty, loss of family ties (due to polygamy, separation between parents), some unwelcome traditional practices (such as forced marriages, female genital mutilation), and the HIV/AIDS epidemic affecting families. In the street the children have worse living conditions since they have nowhere to live, no food and no protection. In a bid to fend for themselves they end up engaging in juvenile delinquency, causing havoc to the society. Therefore, a more detailed research is required and all stakeholders should pull their resources together so as to obtain a sustainable solution for the street children phenomenon in the country.