On 05 April 2019, four Doctoral candidates were hooded at the second session of the Welkom Campus graduations. The newly hooded CUT Welkom Campus Doctors of Education are from left: Joel Johannes De Lange, Mpofokaze Bokhatsi Maope, Stephen Kgano Sebeela and Maisaiah Phakisi Evodia.

Dr Joel Johannes De Lange’s topic was “School management teams’ impact on educators’ job satisfaction in the Free State province” His studies focused on the impact of school management teams (SMT) on educators’ job satisfaction levels in the Free State province. The research findings indicated that participant educators experienced substantial job dissatisfaction that inhibited their job fulfilment, and which puts quality education in schools at risk. His promoter: Dr CL Schlebusch and co-promoter: Prof. SN Matoti.

Dr Mpofokaze Bokhatsi Maope’s research topic: “Towards a development of a quality external support framework for the Further Education and Training (FET) phase physical sciences teachers in Lejweleputswa district”. The research revealed that teachers attended subject-specific workshops and have managed to form collaborations with peers where they planned lessons together. However, teachers felt challenged by a lack of funds to buy science equipment, inadequate supply of science textbooks, and low learner interest in the subject. Her promoter: Dr AM Rambuda and Co-Promoter:Prof. GJV Schlebusch.

Dr Stephen Kgano Sebeela’s topic: “The relationship between the leadership of the school and the performance of Grade 12 learners in the North West province” Dr Sebeela’s study explored the association between the performance of grade 12 learners and the nature of leadership at schools. The results revealed that in secondary schools, transactional leadership was the most implemented leadership style, followed by distributed leadership, transformational and capacity-building leadership. The least implemented leadership style was strategig leadership.  Promoter: Dr AM Rambuda and Co-Promoter: Dr C Moreku.

Dr Phakisi Evodia Maisaiah’s topic “Evaluating the primary school science teachers’ pedagogical practice in multi-grade classrooms in Lesotho” Dr Maisaiah explored problems associated with the teaching of primary school science in multigrade classrooms. The research revealed that teachers adopt a quasi-monograde strategy when they teach. Teaching in a multigrade classroom demands a well trained and innovative teacher who can meet the challenges associated with multigrade teaching. The study recommended retraining and reskilling of multigrade teachers, and that the Lesotho curriculum should include multigrade teaching. Her Promoter: Dr R Bhagwandeen and Co-Promoter: Dr AM Rambuda.

Faculty of Management Sciences graduates celebrating each other’s achievements after graduations

Thapelo Lucky Ramakatsa, Bachelor of Education in Senior phase (SP) and FET Teaching: specialisation: Mathematics and Thato Ncheba: Baccalaureus Educationis: (FET) Specialisation: Economics and Management Sciences.