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

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Date
1999-06
Authors
Mafisa, Lekhotla James
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: This research focuses on the establishment and development of South African community colleges. Gauteng is chosen as the focal area of the study, as it is in many instances, 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 to curricula, organisational and human resource development, funding and governance in the United States of America, Canada and United Kingdom are provided. Lessons from these countries are contextualised in the South African situation. In addition, attention is given to policy initiatives promoting the development of a South African community college concept. Questionnaires and interviews are conducted with the aim of developing an implementation framework for community colleges. Triangulation is seen as adding strength to the methodology adopted in this study. The study is focused on thirty-three technical 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 of community colleges. Findings also indicate strong support for partnership and advocacy campaigns for FET, student financing schemes, statutory and non-statutory governance structures, science and entrepreneurship training. This study is not just an academic exercise but an attempt to contribute to the betterment 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 for further education and training in general and for community colleges in particular. Although this study was confined to Gauteng province, the issues raised are by no means irrelevant to other provinces. Part of the recommendations indicates that careful planning with the aim of enhancing efficiency and effectiveness should be the hallmark of community college development. There is also an urgent need for the establishment of a directorate for further education and training by the Gauteng Department of Education.
Afrikaans: Die navorsing sentreer rondom die vestiging en ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskapskolleges. Gauteng word gekies as die kerngebied waarop die studie fokus, en word beskou as die leidende provinsie in Suid-Afrika met betrekking tot die ekonomiese, sosiale, opvoedkundige en politieke arena. Internasionale perspektiewe op gemeenskapskolleges met betrekking tot beleidsaangeleenthede ten opsigte van organisatoriese en menslike hulpbronontwikkeling, befondsing en beheer in die Verenigde State van Amerika, Kanada en die Verenigde Koninkryk word verskaf. Lesse wat in hierdie lande geleer is, word in die Suid-Afrikaanse situasie gekontekstualiseer. Voorts word aandag geskenk aan beleidsinisiatiewe wat die ontwikkeling van 'n Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskapskollegekonsep bevorder. (xxii) Vraelyste en onderhoude is gebruik met die doelom 'n implementeringsraamwerk vir gemeenskapskolleges te ontwikkel. Die bevindings van die studie strook met die literatuuroorsig dat befondsing, beheer, menslike hulpbronontwikkeling en kurrikula van deurslaggewende belang is in die ontwikkeling van gemeenskapskolleges. Die bevindings dui ook sterk steun aan vir vennootskappe en veldtogte waartydens daar voorspraak gemaak word vir Verdere Onderwys en Opleiding, studentefinansieringskemas, statutêre en nie-statutêre beheerstrukture, wetenskaps- en entrepreneursopleiding. 'n Gedeelte van die aanbevelings dui aan dat noukeurige beplanning, met die doelom doeltreffendheid te bevorder, die waarmerk vir die ontwikkeling van gemeenskapskolleges behoort te wees. Daar bestaan ook 'n dringende behoefte vir die daarstelling van 'n direktoraat vir verdere onderwys en opleiding in die Gautengse Departement van Onderwys.
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Community colleges, Further education, Student access, Equity, Redress, Curricula, Organisational and human resources development, Funding and governance, Community colleges -- South Africa -- Gauteng, Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Gauteng, Thesis (Ph.D. (Didactics))--University of the Free State, 1999
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