Die gemeenskapskollege in die ontwikkeling van agtergeblewe gemeenskappe in die Vrystaat

[摘要] English: The 1991 and 1996 census surveys show that historically disadvantagedUpopulation groups in South Africa have considerable backlogs as far aseducation and training are concerned. The education and training system istherefore challenged to provide for the large numbers of unemployed youthwho have incomplete school careers, semi-qualified workers who are inurgent need of training or re-training and illiterate adults. In addition, thelabour market and economy are posing new demands to workers. This investigation has been conducted to examine the needs of particularlyhistorically disadvantaged communities in the Free State, and how theseneeds may be addressed through education and training provided by acommunity college. For this purpose the researcher engaged in acomparative investigation into community colleges in the US, followed by astudy of national policy developments for the provision of education andtraining in South Africa with the emphasis on further education and training.Attention was also focused on the various needs related to communitydevelopment amongst disadvantaged communities in the Free State, oneducation and training provision in the Free State and ASECA as aprogramme for adult learners, and on the establishment and development ofcommunity colleges as possible prerequisite for the provision of educationand training needs of disadvantaged communities. The study took as point of departure the social-democratic model ofcommunity development presupposing the active participation of all roleplayers in the process of development. Investigations therefore took accountof the perspectives of a number of different role-players in the community,including representatives of the Departments of Health, Agriculture andLabour, the South African Police Service, the Department of Education, aswell as leaders and members of disadvantaged communities themselves.Findings related to the effective role that community colleges in the US areplaying in the development of communities and the country as a whole, ledthe researcher to conclude that the provision of education and trainingthrough community colleges in South Africa can serve as an alternative toprovide disadvantaged communities with a second chance of education andtraining. For this to realise, the proposed community college should notonly present meaningful education and training programmes which will satisfy the education and training needs of the members of thesecommunities, but it should also serve as an information and service centrethat addresses social problems such as poverty, unemployment, HIV/Aidsand crime.Such a community college should therefore be accessible and have variousentry and exit levels for learners which will facilitate accreditation andarticulation to other education and training institutions or to the workplace.A variety of programmes which are comprehensive and multi-functional(including in-service training and adult basic education and literacy) shouldbe developed. For this purpose all role players in education and training andin community development such as education departments, business,industry, agriculture, mining and the community need to meet urgently todiscuss co-operation and partnerships with regard to the establishment of community colleges.

[发布机构] University of the Free State