'But, where is the halaal food?' An appraisal of diversity teaching in clinical law programmes in South African clinics

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Date
2008
Authors
Vawda, Y.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Law, University of the Free State
Abstract
English: South Africa is renowned for its racial, cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity. Our new democratic dispensation further aims to affirm this diversity, both in terms of the values underlying the Constitution as well as in the various programmes, policies and practices found in the public domain. In the tertiary education context and in particular within the law degree, much of the responsibility of teaching diversity issues falls on law clinics because of their access to the broader community through client service and other outreach activities. To what extent are they succeeding? This article explores the extent to which issues of diversity have been integrated into our clinical education programmes; the types of issues which arise in the course of our clinical work, and the measures that are in place in order to meet the challenges. It is based on an empirical study of South African law clinics, conducted between April and June 2007. It provides statistics, highlights some key problems and concerns, and concludes with recommendations for the further and structured integration of diversity issues in clinical curricula.
Afrikaans: Suid-Afrika is bekend vir sy rasse, kulturele, linguistiese en etniese diversiteit. Ons nuwe demokratiese bedeling beoog ook om hierdie diversiteit te verseker beide in terme van die waardes onderliggend aan die Grondwet sowel as verskeie programme, beleidbepalings en praktyke wat in die openbare domein voorkom. In die konteks van tersiere onderrig en meer spesifiek wat betref die regsgraad, kom die verantwoordelikheid vir die onderrig van diversiteit neer op regsklinieke as gevolg van hulle toegang tot die breer gemeenskap deur klientediens en ander uitreikprogramme. In watter mate slaag hulle in hierdie doel? Hierdie artikel ondersoek die omvang waarin kwessies met betrekking tot diversiteit in ons kliniese onderrigprogramme opgeneem is, die tipe aspekte wat na vore kom in die loop van ons werk in klinieke en die maatstawwe wat in plek is om die uitdagings te hanteer. Dit is gebaseer op 'n empiriese studie van Suid-Afrikaanse regsklinieke wat tussen April en Junie 2007 onderneem is. Dit stel statistiek beskikbaar, lig sleutelprobleme en besorgdhede uit en sluit at met aanbevelings om diversiteitskwessies verder en op ·n gestruktureerde wyse in die kliniese leerplanne te integreer.
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Keywords
Clinical law, Diversity teaching, South African law clinics
Citation
Vawda, Y. (2008). 'But, where is the halaal food?' An appraisal of diversity teaching in clinical law programmes in South African clinics. Journal for Juridical Science, Special Issue, 87-98.