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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The Need for Nonformal Education in South Africa |
Author: | Berkhout, Sarie J. |
Year: | 1994 |
Periodical: | Africana Journal |
Volume: | 16 |
Pages: | 120-137 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | South Africa |
Subjects: | educational policy nonformal education Development and Technology Education and Oral Traditions |
Abstract: | In 1980 the government of South Africa requested the Human Sciences Research Council to undertake an extensive inquiry into the problems surrounding the eductional system. Two major recommendations, contained in the resulting report, form the theme of this paper. One recommendation encompasses the principle of providing equal educational opportunities for everyone without regard to race, gender or religion, the other concerns the intended role of nonformal education as an additional and alternative educational route, parallel to the recommended formal educational structure. First, the main problems surrounding the provision of equal educational opportunities are discussed. These relate to equality of access, equality of 'survival' (the dropout problem), equality of 'output', and equality of 'outcome' (employment and income opportunities). Next, two types of informal education are discussed, viz. vocationally oriented training schemes and community education. The main argument in favour of nonformal education as an alternative educational route remains the fact that the increased provision of an academically oriented, Western-style education will contribute little toward a more equal distribution of wealth or a more equitable society in the near future. Notes, ref. |