Aspects of Equality and Special Needs Education4 in South Africa: Reflections on Education White Paper 6 of the South African Department of Education: Special Needs Education — Building an Inclusive Education and Training System (July 2001)

2003 ◽  
pp. 111-135
Author(s):  
Johan Beckmann ◽  
Elmene Bray ◽  
Simeon Maile
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
South African ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Training System ◽  
Department Of Education ◽  
Special Needs Education ◽  
And Training

scholarly journals The management of inclusive education in the four selected junior primary schools in the Empangeni district, KwaZulu-Natal

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Happy Maureen Majola
Keyword(s):  
Special Needs ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Training System ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Barriers To Learning ◽  
Special Needs Education ◽  
And Training

This study investigated the management of inclusive education in the four selected junior primary schools in the Empangeni District, KwaZulu-Natal. Despite the fact that the White Paper 6 on Special Needs Education and Training: Building Inclusive Education and Training System was released in 2001, aiming at providing quality education for all learners, the implementation and management of inclusive education in schools still remain a challenge. This research, therefore, investigated possible challenges and suggested solutions that could be used for the effective implementation and management of inclusive education in schools. This study was conducted to answer the following questions: i. What are the challenges at school level that delay the implementation of inclusive education? ii. What skills do teachers and principals have or acquired in order to identify and support learners who experience barriers to learning and development? iii. What are the teachers’ perceptions regarding the inclusion of learners who experience barriers to learning and development? iv. Does our education system provide teachers with relevant training to meet the challenges that come with inclusive education? An ethnographic research was conducted in four junior primary schools at the Empangeni District, KwaZulu- Natal to find out what happens in their school setting. Fifteen foundation phase teachers from four junior primary schools, four principals and six final year university student teachers participated in the study. The findings of data collected from teachers, principals and student teachers regarding their views on inclusion of learners who experience barriers to learning were used to make recommendations. The findings from the study revealed the need for schools to effectively implement the White Paper 6 on Special Needs Education and Training: Building Inclusive Education and Training System (2001). Inclusion of learners who experience barriers to learning and development is an international initiative, which aims to provide quality education for all learners. The success of inclusion is based on the adoption and implementation of the international, national and provincial inclusive education policies, declarations and guidelines. In this study, it became evident that there is a shortage of teachers who have specialization in Special Education: Barriers to Learning. In- service teacher training and special education element should be included in all courses of initial teacher training. Ongoing professional development of teachers on inclusive education issues is also crucial. Teachers need to be provided with necessary skills to identify developmental delays and barriers to learning early. This study highlighted the importance of the establishment of the functional support structures, Institutional Level Support Team and District Based Support Team so that inclusive education is effectively managed in the education system. Provision of skills that will assist teachers to provide relevant support to learners who experience barriers to learning, lies on the existence of the support structures. The findings also revealed that schools or any other stakeholder cannot address barriers to learning in isolation. Linkages with Tertiary Institutions, Department of Health, Department of Social Development, Non-Governmental Organizations, parents/ caregivers and teacher unions need to be prioritized, in order to ensure that diverse needs of learners are met and barriers to learning and development are addressed. The positive response from the National Department of Education to the international initiatives for promoting single inclusive education system that is responsive to the diverse needs of all learners, resulted to the release of the White Paper 6 on Special Needs Education and Training: Building Inclusive Education and Training System in 2001. The need to close the gap between theory outlined in all the policies and guidelines that promote inclusive education and practice becomes evident in this study. The management of inclusive education in schools, therefore requires the School Management Team to facilitate, amongst other things, human resource development and establishment of the Institutional Level Support Team.

scholarly journals Developmental TVET Rhetoric In-Action: The White Paper for Post-School Education and Training in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Salim Akoojee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Training System ◽  
School Education ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
Definitive Statement ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Training

This paper explores the extent to which latest developments in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training System in South Africa respond to key principles espoused for a developmental, democratic and inclusionary ideal. The White Paper for post school education and training approved by Cabinet in November, 2013 is referred to by the Minister as the "definitive statement of the governments vision for the post school system" and as such represents a crucial strategy document intended to chart the TVET direction to 2030. Using key theoretical constructs from development theory, this paper provides an assessment of the TVET strategy contained is the paper and explores the extent to which it does respond to the agenda defined by the promise. It is argued that the challenges outlined are not yet able to provide the blueprint for a TVET transformative vision. It is concluded that while the development rhetoric contained in the paper is plausible, the creative tinkering of the system is unlikely to lead to the radical revisioning necessary for a truly transformative TVET system. The underlying assumptions regarding purpose, impact and outcome will need to be carefully reconsidered if the system is to be responsive to the promises of the democratic developmental ideal to which the government is committed.

scholarly journals Recognition of prior learning: its relevance to the proposed unified model o f education and training for South African nurses.

Curationis ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Khanyile
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Nurse Educators ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Unified Model ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Nurse Training ◽  
Prior Learning ◽  
Recognition Of Prior Learning ◽  
And Training

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a fairly new concept in South Africa, and hence different people have different views about RPL . Through this paper, an attempt is made to shed some light on the historical background as well as the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of RPL . It is hoped that this information will help those nurse educators wishing to experiment with RPL to have a better understanding of how the concept came about. The relevance of RPL to the Unified model of nurse training proposed by the South African Nursing Council is also discussed.

scholarly journals Continuous Assessment In Schools: Teachers Bitter Pill To Swallow

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mutendwahothe Walter Lumadi
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Summative Assessment ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Department Of Education ◽  
Continuous Assessment ◽  
Criterion Referenced ◽  
And Training ◽  
Democratic Country

This paper articulates debates surrounding the concept of Continuous Assessment (CA) in South African schools. Although the research was focused on schools in this democratic country, it became evident from the findings that assessment is still a challenge besetting both General Education and Training (GET)and Further Education and Training Bands (FET) worldwide. One of the fundamental reasons for the previous national disenchantment with regard to summative assessment has been the gross inequities that have resulted from inferences based solely on final examinations. In the post apartheid era, the Department of Education made it compulsory that schools turned to CA that is backed by criterion-referenced standards. CA has been heralded as the solution to a host of education ills, including the apparent gap in performance between students of various political and religious backgrounds.

Developing inclusive policy and practice in diverse contexts: A South African experience

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berenice Daniels
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
School Psychologists ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
White Paper ◽  
National Commission ◽  
Barriers To Learning ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Inclusive Policy ◽  
Education Support

Pre-1994, South Africa was a country riddled with inequality and discrimination stemming from the policy of ‘apartheid’. Since 1994, there have been considerable efforts made to enable the country to move toward becoming non-racial and democratic, with a culture of human rights and social justice. One of the primary tasks of the new democratically elected government was a reform of the education system. Specialized Education was initially neglected, but then in 1996 a National Commission was appointed to investigate Special Needs in Education and Education Support Services, of which the author was one of the co-ordinators. The timeline for the full implementation of the resulting White Paper 6 on Inclusive Education is 20 years. Inclusive Education in South Africa aims to meet the needs of all learners by addressing barriers to learning, welcoming diversity and fostering maximum participation by all in the culture of the school. This article, based on the author’s experience, will discuss the challenges for implementation of the policy in one of the South African districts which field-tested the recommendations in White Paper 6, a district with diverse contexts, the emerging promising practice, and the implications for specialized support professionals, in particular the role of school psychologists.

scholarly journals Submitting and tracking SADJ manuscripts to be facilitated by manuscript management systems - A professional development bulletin

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 475-477
Author(s):  
Nthabiseng Metsing
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Online Publication ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Political Information ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
And Training

The South African Dental Journal (SADJ) keeps you abreast of the latest developments in dentistry, and is the only Department of Higher Education and Training accredited scientific dental journal in South Africa for publication of scientific papers, clinical articles, current dento-political information and opinion, and trade information. Members are also able to attain their CDP points by completing the online questionnaires. All SADJ online CPD Questionnaires are valid for a two-year period from the date of online publication. If you are not able to load the questionnaire to your courses it may be as a result of expiry.

scholarly journals Tax Education: Current Views And Preferences Of South African Employers

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 951
Author(s):  
Sanet Doman ◽  
Gerhard Nienaber
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Fundamental Difference ◽  
Theoretical Knowledge ◽  
Practical Skills ◽  
Tax Practitioners ◽  
Consulting Firms ◽  
Tax Education ◽  
And Training

Various reasons caused the demand for tax practitioners to increase, creating a need for specialised tax education and training. Since the tax profession is not currently regulated in South Africa, educators receive little input from employers on their expectations regarding formal tax qualifications. This causes uncertainty as to whether or not employers are satisfied with tax education in South Africa. This article reports on the current and preferred composition of tax departments, considering South African employees qualifications. The article also highlights employers current views and preferences regarding theoretical knowledge and practical skills included in these qualifications. Any agreements between the employees current views and preferences are indicated. Data was gathered by using questionnaires and the population on which it was tested comprised partners of the tax departments of certain financial consulting firms. The results show that there is not a fundamental difference between the current and preferred composition of tax departments. There is also evidence that employers preferences regarding theoretical knowledge and practical skills differ from their current views. It is therefore recommended that tax education in South Africa is regulated to ensure that employers can provide input on the curricula included in tax qualifications.

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