Relevant support services in the education system of the Northern Province

Abstract

This study deals with the relevant support services in the education system of the Northern Province. The first chapter serves as the orientation for the research project and contextualize the problem statement, which revolves around the question: What support services are needed to make education and training more effective in the education system of the Northern Province? The aims and objectives, delimitation also of the field of study, methods of investigation structure of study and feasibility of study are presented in this chapter. In the subsequent chapters, attention is given to the definition and theory of support services, which are clearly outlined and discussed separately. These include support services for educators, learners and teaching structures and activities. Support services for educators include: -Support regarding academic equipment; -Support regarding the relationship between the educator and the learner; -Support regarding the relationship between the educator and the learner's family; and -Personal support of the educator. Support services for teaching activities and structures include: -Teaching activities; -Support in the management task of the school; and -Support with the physical features of the school. Attention is also given to internal and external factors underlying the requirements of support services. Internal factors underlying the needs of support services include: -Internal factors of educative nature; -Internal factors of historic nature; -Internal factors of interactive nature; -Infrastructure; -Students; -Educators; -Curriculum and examinations; and -School management. External factors underlying the needs of support services include: -Demography; -Geographic and climatic factors; -The physical and psychological characteristics of the target group; -Science and technology; -Language; -Socio-economic situation of the target group;

-Political and institutional situation; -Philosophy of life or religion; and -Culture. The empirical research, which includes the construction of questionnaire based on literature survey, and the interpretation of data that formed the main focus of the research are also discussed. The dissertation concludes with a presentation of its findings and recommendations with regard to aims and objectives of this research project.