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A decent work-needs-professional development model: A case of rural teachers at Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
(University of Fort Hare, 2024-11) Dlaza, Zikhona; Chinyamurindi, W; Chudzikowski, K
This study aims to test a decent work, needs-professional development model of rural teachers to determine the effect of decent work on teacher professional development. Specifically, the study explores the role of need satisfaction (i.e., survival, social contribution, and self-determination) in the relationship between decent work and rural teacher’s professional development. Rural teachers face distinct challenges that are unique to their environment. These challenges stem from several sources linked to impoverishment, lack of resources, isolation, and overcrowded classrooms. Subsequently, this determines the degree to which teachers participate in professional development activities that impact the provision of quality education. Therefore, this study seeks to understand how improving work conditions (decent work) can influence teachers' professional growth in these settings. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire from a sample of 330 rural teachers in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study analysed the data using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results of the SEM indicated that decent work has a positive but non-significant effect on teacher professional development. Moreover, decent work positively and significantly predicted the needs satisfaction of rural teachers. Survival need satisfaction mediated the effect of decent work on rural teachers' professional development, while social contribution and self-determination need satisfaction had no significant mediating effect. The findings of this study suggest that the more the rural teachers perceive their work as decent and feel that their survival needs are fulfilled, the more they participate in teacher professional development activities. Furthermore, the study extends the literature on the antecedents of teacher professional development, and the results can offer some implications. Specifically, it can guide policymakers in developing targeted interventions to address the specific challenges that rural teachers face and impact their access to professional development programmes. Practitioners and educational stakeholders can use the study’s findings to advocate for the work conditions that fulfil the needs of rural teachers as a strategy to enhance teaching practices and career development prospects. In the epilogue, this study is critical because it highlights the importance of addressing decent work conditions that fulfil the needs of rural teachers as a strategy to enhance their professional development.
Psychological, emotional and social wellbeing of adolescents in urban and semi-urban communities of Centurion, Gauteng
(University of Fort Hare, 2025-03-12) Matukane, Alucia Nkateko; Mashau, F.; Wagner, J-D.
Background: Adolescents in developing countries seem to be experiencing significant behavioural changes, with mental health being the leading cause. This study aims to describe and compare the psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing of adolescentsliving in urban and semi-urban areas.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 414 adolescents (aged between 10 to 19 years), using Keyes’s MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUUM SHORT FORM in both urban and semi-urban communities. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis were used to compare the differences with significance set at p<0.05.
Results: Based on Keyes (2009) Mental Health Continuum model, the descriptive statistics using Pivot Tables more than two-thirds of the participants were classified as being moderately mentally health (185,58%) with the remainder being classified along the continuum as flourishing (98,31%) and languishing (37,11%). Two samples t-test analysis results have shown a high significance level on emotional wellbeing (p=0.0000), a low significance level on social wellbeing (p=0.0570) and no significance in the psychological wellbeing (p=9949) of the adolescents from the two communities. Further analysis using the Chi-square test revealed a statistically significant difference in five of the MHC-SF 14 items. Items 1 to 3 (p<0.001) and items 4 - 5 (p=0.015, p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in items 6 to 14 of MHC-SF.
Conclusion: The majority of the adolescents who took part in this study had moderate mental health, followed by those who were flourishing, as evidenced by positive functioning symptoms. Adolescent mental health problems are linked to their general wellbeing. Interventions for mental health issues vary depending on what is causing them. This study can be used to determine the need for policies and programs that can support adolescents' mental health resilience in changing social determinants of health situations, as adolescent mental health becomes a more important issue.
The role of community-based organisations and ward-based outreach teams in the implementation of the 90-90-90 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment Strategy in the Amathole District
(University of Fort Hare, 2023) Makeleni, Ntombekhaya Phyllis; Goon, D.T.
Community-based services are vital to the achievement of goals set for ending HIV as a public health threat. Amathole Health District has not produced the desired results towards the achievement of the 90-90-90 HIV treatment strategy. The aim of this study was to assess the role of community-based organisations and wardbased outreach teams (WBOTs) in the implementation of the 90-90-90 HIV treatment strategy in Amathole in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A qualitative design was followed by conducting face-to-face interviews with purposively selected ward-based outreach team leaders and managers of community-based organisations. Focus group discussions were held using an interview guide. Individual interviews included four ward-based outreach team leaders and five managers of communitybased organisations. Focus group discussions were inclusive of four groups of community health workers from ward-based outreach teams (WBOTs) and five groups of community care givers from community-based organisations (CBOs). The findings of the study were five common themes included: case finding where home visits and counselling were provided; linkage to care where referral of clients and tracing of defaulters was done; retention to care which included conducting follow-up visits and client monitoring; collaboration between CBOs, WBOTs, and health facilities and success achieved in the implementation of the 90-90-90 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment strategy which included viral suppression, decreased deaths, and tracing of defaulters. It is concluded that the continuum of HIV care requires more efforts towards ensuring that there is synergy between community-based workers and public health institutions for the achievement of the 90-90-90 targets.
Government Gazette of the RSA 1981
(Republic of S.A, 1980-11-21) Republic of South Africa
The collection contains digitized microfiche copies of Government Gazette publications issued during 1981. The record provides official government notices, regulations, and public announcements of historical and administrative significance.
A programme for promoting the uptake of organ donation among Xhosa Community in the Eastern Cape Province
(University of Fort Hare, 2024-11) Mtise, Tobeka; Seekoe, E.; Goon, D.T.
Currently, there exists a global shortage of viable organs that meet the high transplantation demands as treatment options. While there is an increasing need for organ transplantation, people are dying on a daily basis because they are not receiving the life-saving organs they require. Furthermore, while many South Africans rely on life-saving organ transplants, convincing rural black communities to donate organs is an arduous task because of their prevailing cultural beliefs. Considering the above, the overall aim of this study was to develop a programme promoting the uptake of organ donation among the Xhosa community in the Eastern Cape Province by empowering them with the necessary knowledge and understanding of organ donation. Moreover, it sought to promote community discussion of and participation in organ donation. The researcher anticipated that by equipping communities and individuals with truth-based facts, more people would be willing to become organ donors, thereby addressing the severe shortage thereof.