The influence of the lack of social work interventions on teaching and learning outcomes in high schools in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province: the voices of educators

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2021

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Khanyile, Andile A

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Abstract

School social workers have played an important role in schools for many years, as they contribute to the successful achievement of teaching and learning outcomes, through their interventions, which are based on the theoretical framework of holistic counselling services and behavioural intervention strategies. In America, school social workers play a vital role in the education system as it is understood that learners are holistic beings which require different interventions in supporting their educational success. On the contrary, in South Africa, the critical role that school social workers play has not yet fully been embraced. As such, the lack of school social work interventions within high school settings is becoming an issue that requires urgent attention. Guided by the CAIMeR model, the aim of the study was to apply a qualitative research method to explore and describe the influence of the lack of social work interventions in high schools. The collective case study research design guided the researcher in obtaining multiple perceptions of the lack of school social work interventions. The population of the study were high school educators, and a sample of nine (9) educators affected by the lack of school social work interventions, were selected using non-probability purposive sampling. Data was collected using the semi-structured face-to-face interview. An interview schedule, containing a set of questions was utilised as a guide during the interviews to ensure that all participants were asked the same question. The most important aspect that emerged from the thematic analysis content of the discussions was that school social work interventions are a necessity in academic institutions due to the multiple challenges learners and educators have to deal with which may impact the process of teaching and learning if left unattended. The main conclusion drawn from the study was that while other measures have been taken in remedying these issues, the deployment of trained and qualified school social workers would assist in eliminating the underlying psycho-social challenges affecting the teaching and learning process. Findings were able to see the value of educators and school social workers working together in promoting the educational success of learners

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A research report on a research study presented to the Department of Social Work, School of Human and Community Development, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts (in the field of Social Development), 2021

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