Question NW3139 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
07 September 2015 - NW3139
Cassim, Mr Y to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(a) How many students over how many years have graduated from the recently de-accredited social work degree at the University of South Africa, (b) have the employers of the specified students been informed that their employees are in possession of a degree which has now been deemed inadequate by the Council for Higher Education, (c) how will the inadequacies in their training be remedied, (d) how many other social work degrees were assessed by the specified council, (e) what were the specific outcomes of each assessment and (f) what remedies were proposed in each case where inadequacies were found?
Reply:
(a) Students who graduated from the University of South Africa (UNISA) with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) before the programme’s accreditation status was changed to ‘not accredited’ by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) in June 2015, are not affected by the change. Therefore, only graduates in 2015 are affected but will be allowed to register with the South African Council on Social Service Practitioners. Students who are currently enrolled in the programme will be transferred to the new programme once accredited. The University has already commenced with the recurriculation of the programme and will submit the programme to CHE for accreditation before the end of 2015. No new enrolments in the BSW will be allowed at UNISA for 2016. Once new enrolments are allowed in 2017, current students will be transferred to the new accredited programme.
(b) The primary employer of BSW graduates is the Department of Social Development (DSD). The Department, DSD and UNISA met to discuss the implications of the de-accreditation. The primary employer is therefore aware of the processes going forward, with regard to the development and offering of a new accredited BSW at UNISA.
(c) Inadequacies are remedied through recurriculation. A communication and teach-out plan for current BSW students has been developed by UNISA. Transferring current students to other programmes, until the new BSW is accredited, is considered as an option. More resources will be allocated to the Department of Social Work at the University and additional staff will be headhunted.
(d) Sixteen BSW programmes were reviewed.
(e) Seven received full accreditation, five received accreditation with conditions, one with a notice of withdrawal, whilst three were de-accredited, including UNISA’s programme.
(f) The four primary concerns were about staff competencies, the theoretical underpinning and content of the programme, programme design, and the nature and extent of practical sessions in the programme.
Compiler/Contact persons:
Ext:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
REPLY TO QUESTION 3139 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE: