Can schools function as sites for children's services? : a case study of two schools in the East Rand.
Date
2010-08-20
Authors
Williams, Samantha E.
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Abstract
The South African Department of Education is working with multiple non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) to transform schools into "caring schools" that emphasise: health
promotion, safety, care for orphans and vulnerable children, quality education,
community engagement and respect for rights and equality. Using a qualitative case study
of a primary school and a secondary school in a Johannesburg township, as well as a
review of caring school models currently operating in South Africa, this research
explores the degree to which the caring school philosophy can be translated into practice.
Findings suggest that educators accept the caring schools theory; however, most doubted
that their schools could serve such a function at present. Educators named entrenched
obstacles such as teacher burden, over-sized classes, inefficient governing bodies and
support teams, and inadequate training and funding to deal with learners' psychosocial
issues as the main shortcomings in their schools. This research illuminates the realities of
transforming schools into sites for children's services, while contributing to the debate
about the function of schools in social development programming.