OBSTACLES AND FACILITATIVE OPPORTUNITIES WHILE STUDYING SOCIAL WORK WITHIN AN OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING CONTEXT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15270/47-4-115Abstract
The current number of registered social workers in South Africa is insufficient to meet the demands of the national welfare system (Earle, 2008:150). Earle (2008:49-58) bases this statement on various factors and estimations. In 2005 the vacancy rates within the Department of Social Development were on average 37.9%. Because of the salary differential between the public and private welfare sector, it is likely that the vacancy rate within the NGO sector is even higher. Based on the estimated population growth between 2005 and 2015 and the annual requirements for social workers, calculated at the current ratio of 23.6 social workers per 100 000 of the population, an additional 468 social workers will be needed by 2015. Vacancies created by retirement, death, emigration, social workers taking employment opportunities outside of social work, and voluntary exit from the labour market because of family responsibilities also need to be taken into account. An estimated total of 3 970 new social workers will be needed by 2015 to fill these vacancies. Calculations also need to take into account the government’s norms and standards regarding social worker-to-population ratios – translated into numbers of social workers per 100 000 of the population; these norms are roughly 20 (urban), 22 (peri-urban) and 33 (rural). If these norms are implemented, the current shortfall of social workers employed in welfare is 7 631. More social workers will also be needed to implement governmental programmes or legislation. Barberton (in Earle, 2008:54) estimates that 67 507 social workers will be needed in 2010/2011 to fulfil the requirements of the Children’s Act (38 of 2005). Although these estimations are fragmented and incomplete and do not add up to a clear total, they do convey the point that the demand for social workers in South Africa is considerably higher than the current numbers available within the labour market (Earle, 2008:58).Downloads
References
BABBIE, E. & MOUTON, J. 2002. The practice of social research. New York: Oxford University Press.
BOTHA, P. 2009. Dates and venues for workshops and practice sessions; assignment dates. Tutorial letter 301/2009 for SCK4009. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
BUTHELEZI, R.T. 2002. Social group work with adults: integrating theory and practice. Only study guide for SCK404D. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
DE KOCK, D. 2009. Curriculum, tutorial matter, assignments and practica. Tutorial letter 101/2009 for SCK2024. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
DE KOCK, D. 2010. Workbook to facilitating communication in groups and communities. Tutorial Letter 501/2010 for SCK2024. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
DU PLESSIS, C. & LOUW, H. 2009. Guide for community work workshops and practicals. Tutorial letter 501/2009 for SCK406F. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
GROBLER, H. 2008a. Theory, values and skills for work with groups and families. Tutorial letter 501/2009 for SCK3028. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
GROBLER, H. 2008b. Guidelines for practical casework, group and family work. Tutorial letter 501/2009 for SCK304A. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
GROBLER, H. 2009a. Social casework. Only study guide for SCK3016. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
GROBLER, H. 2009b. Dates for workshops, practice and group supervision sessions. Tutorial Letter 102/2009 for SCK304A & SCK305B. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
GROBLER, H. & SCHENCK, R. 2009. Person-centred facilitation: process, theory and practice (3rd ed). Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa.
LAWLOR, G.M. 2008. Examining the fit between personal, learning and practical work contexts of students to further practice excellence in Social Work training. Pretoria: University of South Africa. (Dissertation of limited scope for the MA Social Sciences (Mental Health) at the Department of Social Work)
LINTVELT, R.A. 2008. The personal contexts of undergraduate students in Social Work at UNISA. Pretoria: University of South Africa. (Dissertation of limited scope for the MA Social Sciences (Mental Health) at the Department of Social Work)
LOUW, H. & DICKER, J. 2001. Community work. Only study guide for SCK3039. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
MBEDZI, R.P. 2009a. General information, curriculum, study material, workshop dates and assignment. Tutorial letter 101/2009 for SCK103Y. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
MBEDZI, R.P. 2009b. Assignment 02: practica tasks and workbook. Tutorial letter 102/2009 for SCK103Y. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
MBEDZI, R.P. 2010. Exploring social workers’ integration of the Person-Centred Approach into practice within different working contexts. Pretoria: University of South Africa. (Dissertation of limited scope for the MA Social Sciences (Mental Health) at the Department of Social Work)
MOHAPI, B.J. 2009. Manual for practical group work. Tutorial letter 501/2009 for SCK404D. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
MOHAPI, B.J. & SCHENCK, C.J. 2006a. Facilitating communication with people in groups and communities. Only study guide for SCK2013. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
MOHAPI, B.J. & SCHENCK, C.J. 2006b. Practical guide to facilitating communication in groups and communities. Only study guide for SCK2024. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
MOSES, J.W. & KNUTSEN, T.L. 2007. Ways of knowing: competing methodologies in social and political research. New York: Palgrave MacMillan.
PETTY, A. 2006. Marriage guidance: facilitative couples counselling. Only study guide for MGG201W. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
RSA (REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA). 1997. Ministry of Welfare and Population Development. White Paper for Social Welfare. Notice 1108 of 1997, Government Gazette, vol. 386, No. 18166 of 8 August. Pretoria, Government Printers.
SCHENCK, C.J. 2002. Practical casework: working with individuals and families. Only study guide for SCK402B. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
SCHENCK, C.J. 2008. Should being a South African make social work training different? Towards giving new meaning to the concept “student-centredness”. Unpublished inaugural lecture 21/10/2008: Unisa.
SCHENCK, C.J. 2009. Fourth year overview. Tutorial letter 302/2009 for SCK4009. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
SKHOSANA, R.M. 2009. Guide for practical community work. Tutorial letter 501/2009 for SCK305B. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
SOCIAL WORK. 2010. Welcome to the Department of Social Work. Home page. [Online] Available: www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=170. [Accessed: 24/09/2010].
STUDENT SYSTEM. 2010. Registrations per subject. [Online] Available: www.unisa. staffonline.ac.za. [Accessed: 03/05/2010].
STUDENT SYSTEM. 2011. Registrations per subject. [Online] Available: www.unisa. staffonline.ac.za. [Accessed: 03/05/2011].
TERRE BLANCHE, M & DURRHEIM, K. (eds) 2002. Research in practice: applied methods for the social sciences. Cape Town: UCT Press.
UNISA EXAMINATIONS. 2009. Statistical analysis – October/November 2009. Pretoria: Department of Social Work.
UNISA. nd. University of South Africa – the freedom of learning. Pretoria: Studio M.
UNISA. nd. 2015 Strategic Plan: an agenda for transformation. [Online] Available: www.unisa.staffonline.ac.za. [Accessed: 18/08/2010].
UNISA. nd. Institutional Operational Plan 2010. [Online] Available: www.unisa. staffonline.ac.za. [Accessed: 18/08/2010].
UNISA. 2010. Diversity of learners. [Online] Available: www.unisa.ac.za. [Accessed: 25/08/2010).
UNISA. 2005. Tuition Policy. [Online] Available: www.unisa.staffonline_policies. [Accessed: 11/09/2010].
UNISA. 2008. UNISA Open Distance Learning Policy. [Online] Available: www.unisa.staffonline_policies. [Accessed: 11/08/2010].
VAN DYK, A.C. 2000. Introduction to social work and the helping process. Only study guide for SCK102X. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
VAN DYK, A.C. 2006. Welfare policy. Only study guide for SCK101W. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
VAN DYK, AC & HARRISON, E. 2008. Social work, supervision and ethics. Only study guide for SCK411C. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
VAN DYK, A.C. 2009. Personal interview – History of the Department of Social Work. 10 May 2009.
WADE, B.L. 2009. UNISA Social Work students’ experiences of trauma: and exploratory study from a Person-Centred perspective. Pretoria: University of South Africa. (Thesis submitted for the requirement of the DPhil in Social Work)
ZIMA, P.V. 2007. What is theory? Cultural theory as discourse and dialogue. London: Continuum International Publishing Group.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This journal is an open access journal, and the authors and journal should be properly acknowledged when works are cited.
Authors may use the publishers version for teaching purposes, in books, and with conferences.
The following license applies:
Attribution CC BY-4.0
This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation.
Articles as a whole may not be re-published with another journal.
