The aim of this paper was to investigate students’ perceptions of ICT usage by staff and students at a South African University. A researcher crafted questionnaire-interview (Questaview) was anonymously administered to a randomly selected group of fifty students to enlist their views on the extent to which they and academic staff utilise ICT during learning and teaching. There were a total of 44 usable returns. Data were analysed thematically after interrogating the responses through coding. Results showed that students perceived ‘technology for learning’ to mean a computer. They were satisfied with its use and functionality since commencing their studies. Students also reported that most lecturers do not use ICT for teaching. Students perceived ICT particularly the computer, as impacting positively on their academic success, academic access and other curricular issues. We concluded that despite the challenges such as an underutilisation of other ICT’s by lecturers, the students perceived ICT in their learning as useful. Students’ perceptions in the use of ICT by themselves and their lecturers did not differ much. Moreover, they suggested ways in which lecturers could use more ICT for teaching and learning purposes. On this basis, the paper suggests that universities should sustain their ICT e-learning programmes and training by channelling financial support if student academic performance and quality are to be enhanced. The positive impact of such initiatives makes a strong case for massive investment in e-learning programmes especially among academic staff. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n11p43

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Students’ Perceptions of the Use of ICT in a Higher Education Teaching and Learning Context: The Case of a South African University

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The Famished Road: Oil Dependency and Socioeconomic Underdevelopment in the Niger Delta

This article reports on a study conducted among non-managerial administrative employees in the South African public service to determine what they need to perform to their optimum level and what will make them feel that they are well looked after. The empirical survey focused on perceptions of administrative employees, to determine and identify barriers to efficiency as well as to evaluate the role physical workplace factors play in service delivery and in terms of the morale of the employees. These employees identified many intrinsic as well as extrinsic job factors that influence their productivity and morale negatively. Leaders in government, and managers in the public service, should take every possible measure to identify and decrease the current skills shortage, not only within the ranks of employees, but also among the different management levels. Training and education needs should be addressed to ensure optimum levels of performance and motivated employees. This matter influences the entire country and even the president of South Africa has referred to this issue. The improvement of these issues will not only produce happier and more productive employees, but would probably also lead to cost reduction and savings in the entire public sector of this country.

	 

	Key words: Public service, skills shortage, job factors, productivity, morale, administrative function.

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Productivity and morale of administrative employees in the South African public service

The last few years have witnessed a rapid growth in information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure in both developed and developing countries. This has resulted in an increase in ICT capabilities whereby its application is found in every sector of economies and societies. The speedy spread in ICT systems is creating an avenue for African countries to harness technology for developmental purposes. At the same time, many African countries are increasing their national information infrastructure investments so that they can partake in knowledge-based development as well as socio-economic payback. This study complements an earlier study that used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to analyze ICT expansion in West African countries The paper investigates efficiency in ICT utilization across four regions in Africa. The DEA analysis shows that ICT utilization in Africa varies across the regions and is determined by level of infrastructure accessibility and cost of ICT services.

ICT Infrastructure Utilization in Africa: Data Envelopment Analysis Based Exploration

KEYWORDS Curriculum. Curriculum Studies. Principles. Culture. School. Socialization. Sociology. Zimbabwe ABSTRACT This paper interrogates the multifarious perceptions of the word curriculum from an educational viewpoint. In considering questions of curriculum one must go beyond the confines of the school to look at society. The study considers the values, traditions and beliefs of the whole culture of society. Curriculum decisions are not just about content and organising teaching/learning of subject matter but careful considerations of philosophical, psychological and sociological issues. Research shows that without a thorough consideration of these fundamental principles, the designed curriculum may fail to address the needs of the society. Using a desktop approach, this study explored and discussed some sociological principles and how these have been considered and represented in the Zimbabwean school curriculum as a case in point. Sociological principles are social forces that govern one's behaviour in a given society. The paper concludes by showing that sociological principles have been considered in the formulation and implementation of most school curriculum studies. The study implores curriculum planners to design curriculum studies that take cognisance of key sociological principles if society is to move forward by using education as a vehicle for development.

Rethinking the Definition and Value of the Curriculum Concept: The Zimbabwe Experience

A global infrastructure is emerging in the 21ST century in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) are becoming more and more pervasive. Dynamic innovation processes continue to give rise to the social and technological capabilities that could release the potential of ICT for development. Products produced in this diverse field have a wide application in society. It is a field that developing countries need to harness and develop considerable technical competence. Governments, businesses and other stakeholders in developing countries need to coordinate their actions in order to amplify the social and economic benefits of ICTs and to reduce the risk of exclusion. This paper presents a perspective of the ICT infrastructure in Zimbabwe. The increasing spread of ICT opens new opportunities for Zimbabwe to harness these technologies and services to serve its development goals. By investing in its national information infrastructures, Zimbabwe can experience the predicted social and economic benefits of a global information infrastructure. The paper gives a detailed coverage of recommendations for the case of Zimbabwe.

Fortune S. Mhlanga

Papers

A Developing Country'S Information And Communication Technology Infrastructure In Perspective: A Vision For The 21st Century