Unisa community has heart of gold - University of South Africa

Heartbreak of our youth
From left, Ms Eugenia Machobane, Zivuseni Primary School; Mr John Maluleke, Principal: Wallmansthal
Secondary School; Ms Nomusa Mpila, Zivuseni Primary School; Ms Lea Mokweuho,
Baweze Primary School; Professor Herman Conradie, Department of Criminology; Mr Reginald
Ntenane, Wallmansthal Secondary School; Professor Erna Prinsloo, Department of Educational
Studies
The Interest Group Socio-education and
the Department of Criminology held a
second round of panel discussions on the
well-being of the youth of South Africa
on 28 May 2008. During the previous
round in 2007, the discussion focused
on the lack of a value system in South
African society and the effects this had on
children.
In the current session, principals and life
orientation teachers from schools in the
Gauteng area discussed the problems and
challenges they faced in their schools
as they attempt to guide their learners
towards adequate, responsible and happy
adulthood.
Professor Herman Conradie from the
Department of Criminology opened the
discussion by outlining how educators can
identify the tell-tale indicators of abuse.
He also specified how to identify the
perpetrators of mental, emotional, intellectual
and physical abuse.
Professor Conradie emphasised that when
the school suspects abuse, a social worker
should be called to take a statement. If
educators get involved, they may prejudice
the legal processes. “This also serves
to protect the relationship the educator
has with the child and the parents,” said
Professor Conradie.
Honorary doctorates awarded
Unisa conferred four honorary doctorates
during the autumn graduations:
• Mr Brian Joffe, Executive Chairman
of Bidvest Group, received the degree
DCom on 5 May.
• Mr Ramakgabotla John Mekoa,
renowned musician and founder of the
Music Academy Gauteng, received the
degree DMus on 4 June.
• Professor Noel Chabani Manganyi, a
clinical psychologist and academic,
who chairs the Council on Higher
Education, received the degree DLitt et
Phil on 11 June.
• Archbishop Winston Hugh Njongonkulu
Ndungane, the Archbishop of Cape
Town, received the degree DLitt et Phil
on 12 June.
All the honorary doctorates were conferred
in Pretoria.
Mr Brian Joffe (centre) receives his blazer from Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Barney
Pityana, and Deputy Registrar, Professor Divya Singh
8
As the session continued, the discussants
painted a chilling picture of school
violence, disruptive behaviour, alcohol
and drug abuse, sexual abuse and teenage
pregnancies, and dysfunctional or
non-existent family backgrounds. The
consensus was that life orientation classes
have a limited impact in mitigating these
risk factors.
Educators also felt that they receive little
or no support from communities, the
education authorities or social services in
alleviating the problems they encounter
on a daily basis.
Some educators argued that because they
were forced to act as social workers, police,
or medical personnel, their teaching
time was compromised. Another perception
was that problems were compounded
if not all staff members employed by
schools were competent or committed.
The lack of effective and workable school
policies was also highlighted.
The information gleaned from these
round table discussions will be of value
during the evaluation and development
of training courses in Education at Unisa.
“Teachers need empowerment and society
needs more structures,’’ summed up Professor
Erna Prinsloo from the Department
of Educational Studies.