The role of social workers as pastoral carers in high schools in the Cape Metropole
Loading...
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
Social workers play a vital role in providing pastoral care to learners in schools. However, social workers remain an underutilized resource in South Africa’s educational system. Over the past three decades, there has been a growing interest in a whole-school approach to pastoral care that supports the holistic development of learners. The aim of this qualitative study was to better understand the role of social workers as pastoral carers in Cape Metropolitan high schools. The chosen theoretical framework was the ecological systems theory proposed by Bronfenbrenner (1994). The study population was social workers who fulfilled the role of pastoral carers in high schools in the Cape Metropole. Purposive sampling was employed to select thirteen pastoral carers from 13 high schools in the Cape Metropole. A combination of an exploratory and descriptive design was adopted, and data was collected through semi-structured individual interviews. To test the interview schedule, a pilot interview was conducted with one pastoral carer who met the inclusion criteria. To safeguard the participants’ identities and autonomy, protocols of informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality were followed. Data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. The data was thematically analysed. Trustworthiness was established through confirmability, transferability, credibility, and dependability. The Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee of University of the Western Cape provided ethics approval.
Description
Keywords
Ecological systems theory, Educator, Former model C school, Pastoral care, School social work