Educational provision for the Griquas in South Africa

[摘要] The purpose of this study was to plan the provision of education for the Griquas in SouthAfrica within the context of the educational rights of minority groups. Its main focus was onhow to make the education system in South Africa more responsive to the histories, heritages,life experiences and cultural conditioning of the Griquas as a minority group in all its policymaking,programme planning and instructional practices.International trends have shown that the rights of minority groups have been described in differenttreaties and conventions of international organisations such as the United Nations(UN), the European Community (EC) and the United Nations Education, Scientific and CulturalOrganisation (UNESCO). These rights focused on two main issues, namely the right toown identity and the right not to be discriminated against.In order to implement the above acknowledged rights (which include the educational rights)of minority groups, several countries have implemented specific measures in their respectiveeducation systems, thereby serving the particular religious and/or cultural needs of minoritygroups in their countries. In nation-states across the world a situation has developed that,while the world is experiencing globalisation of, for example, trade and communication, thearea of control and power is being questioned by groups on a regional level. It is primarilyminority groups, defined by their ethnic or cultural distinctiveness, in the relevant nation states,that are seeking to obtain more direct control over their own affairs. Experience hasfurthermore shown that national unity is not endangered by the recognition of the rights ofminority groups but is promoted if the rights of minorities are recognised in a country.In the educational arena it has become clear that the focus of education should be to equipeach learner with the required knowledge, skills and attitudes to effectively fulfil his/her differentroles in life. With regard to the issue of the relationship between the minority group andthe educational institution, the trend has been to focus on specific educational institutions inorder to provide in the minority groups' educational needs. The characteristics and culture ofa particular educational institution should be acceptable to the minority group to ensure thatthe particular minority group takes ownership of it.In the light of the above information the educational needs of the Griquas, as a case study,were determined by using the focus group discussion as a technique according to the qualitativeresearch method. The results ofthe focus groups were then compared with the findings ofthe literature study. In order to make the necessary adjustments, the method of strategic educationalplanning was used in order to provide in the educational needs of the Griquas. Thefollowing trends emerged, amongst others: universal primary education, a diversified highschool curriculum with emphasis on science, technology and agriculture, local control ofeducation by the Griquas and special arrangements and/or alternatives for schooling.

[发布机构] North-West University