The establishment and development of a further education sector in South Africa with specific reference to the community colleges concept in the Gauteng Province

[摘要] English: This research focuses on the establishment and development of South Africancommunity colleges. Gauteng is chosen as the focal area of the study, as it is in manyinstances, a leading province in South Africa in terms of the economic, social,educational and political arena.International perspectives of community colleges regarding policy issues relating tocurricula, organisational and human resource development, funding and governance inthe United States of America, Canada and United Kingdom are provided. Lessonsfrom these countries are contextualised in the South African situation. In addition,attention is given to policy initiatives promoting the development of a South Africancommunity college concept.Questionnaires and interviews are conducted with the aim of developing animplementation framework for community colleges. Triangulation is seen as addingstrength to the methodology adopted in this study. The study is focused on thirty-threetechnical colleges of the Gauteng Department of Education.Findings of the study are in line with the literature review that funding, governance,human resource development and curricula are critical in the development ofcommunity colleges. Findings also indicate strong support for partnership andadvocacy campaigns for FET, student financing schemes, statutory and non-statutorygovernance structures, science and entrepreneurship training.This study is not just an academic exercise but an attempt to contribute to thebetterment of the education system. It will serve as a guideline to policy makers.students, and educators who are tasked with the responsibility of making headway forfurther education and training in general and for community colleges in particular.Although this study was confined to Gauteng province, the issues raised are by nomeans irrelevant to other provinces.Part of the recommendations indicates that careful planning with the aim of enhancingefficiency and effectiveness should be the hallmark of community collegedevelopment. There is also an urgent need for the establishment of a directorate forfurther education and training by the Gauteng Department of Education.

[发布机构] University of the Free State