of Higher Education (NIHE) to address social worker shortage in province
21 November 2006
The Northern Cape Department of Social Services and Population Development
together with the National Institute of Higher Education announced in Kimberley
today that the institution will offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Social
Work, as from 1 January 2007.
The two parties signed the agreement to facilitate this process during a
press conference held at the department's offices. According to the agreement,
the NIHE will offer a BA degree in social work that is underwritten by the
University of South Africa (Unisa).
The Department of Social Services and Population Development in partnership
with the national Department of Social Development has committed approximately
R1,3 million to facilitate funding for a minimum of 30 students in every year
of study for a period of four years.
The agreement is the result of exploratory meetings initiated by the
department with NIHE to offer social work as a degree course at the Institute
in order to address training of social workers in the province and
simultaneously provide a solution for the shortage of skilled professionals in
this sector.
The problem of the lack of social workers is a well known fact. Various
departments who require their services, including the departments of Health,
Correctional Services and the South African Police Service as well as Social
Services and Population Development are experiencing difficulties because of
this shortage.
In addition to the abovementioned the private sector, as well as
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), also requires the services of social
workers. As a result of this escalating demand and the small number of social
workers entering the market, the supply of social workers does not meet the
demand.
The ideal norm for social workers as per population as stipulated in the
Integrated Service Delivery Model is 1:3 000. Presently, in the Northern Cape
there are about 200 social workers employed by Government as well as the NGO
sector. This translates into a ratio of 1:5 000. The solution clearly lies in
ensuring that we train more social workers.
Up until now students that sought to pursue a career in social work had to
do so at universities outside of the province, or at Hugenote College in the
Western Cape which specialises in social work training.
This initiative is a positive step in addressing the shortage of social
workers in the province. Increasing the number of social worker professionals
will have far reaching effects on the quality of services that is being
rendered by the Northern Cape government in general, and the Department of
Social Services and Population Development in particular. Not only will this
initiative assist the Northern Cape, but it is expected to assist with the
overall shortage of social workers in the country, in particular our
neighbouring provinces.
It is heartening to note that the private sector has joined us in this
endeavour with First National Bank (FNB) taking the lead by offering a sum of
R100 000 towards bursaries for prospective students for the 2007 academic
year.
For further information please call
Celine Morolong
Spokesperson for MEC of Social Services and Population Development, Goolam
Akharwaray
Cell: 082 826 6792
Issued by: Department of Social Services and Population Development,
Northern Cape Provincial Government
21 November 2006
Source: Department of Social Development (http://www.socdev.gov.za)
