South African Research Chair: Education and Care in Childhood Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg

South Africa

1st Advisory Committee Meeting

held on 28 May 2014 @ 3PM SA time

Online : https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/768839557

hosted by Professor Jace Pillay

Welcome

Introduction: Advisory Committee Members

1. Prof Linda Liebenberg: Deputy Director of Resilience Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

2. Prof Caven McLaughlin: Senior Professor, Faculty of Education, Kent State University, Ohio, USA

3. Prof Elias Mpofu: Director of Rehabilitation Counselling, Sydney University, Australia University of Botswana

4. Joan van Niekerk: National Director of Child line

5. Prof Leila Patel: Director, Centre for Social Development, University of Johannesburg

6. Dr Katie Schenk: Senior Researcher of Washington Population Council

7. Prof Jonathan Simon: Director of Global Health Centre, Boston University

8. Dr Donald Skinner: Director, Health Centre, Stellenbosch University

9. Prof Julia Sloth-Nielsen: Dean of Law, University of Western Cape

10. Dr Andries Viviers: Senior Policy Analyst: Children’s Rights, UNICEF

11. Dr Lucy Cluver: University Lecturer, Dept. of Social Policy & Intervention, Oxford University Dept. of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town

Purpose of Meeting:

Based on your experience and expertise in working with vulnerable

children, the role of this Committee would be to advise the Chair on

specific aspects of the research agenda. This will be an International

Committee comprising world-renowned scholars and practitioners in

the field of OVC. The full Committee would meet twice a year or as

when required through various communications mediums.

Chair Progress: Feedback and discussion

SARCHi webpage:

http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Faculties/edu/CentresandInstitutes/SarchiAtUJ/Pages/defa

ult.aspx

Overview of Research objectives

• The first research objective of the Research Chair is to investigate the effects of paternal,

maternal and double parental absence on children in their early years of education and care, and

to explore how such absence contributes to children’s levels of vulnerability.

• The second research objective is to investigate factors of vulnerability (risks) prevalent in OVC

households. The specific factors that this investigation will focus on are trauma, grief, depression,

stress, anxiety and levels of vulnerability. The argument presented here is that all of these factors

are likely to affect the mental health of OVC and as such they must be addressed before the

children are exposed to any form of education, whether informal or formal.

Overview of Research objectives

• The third research objective of the Chair is to understand the role that schools and stakeholders

play in contributing to the vulnerabilities of OVC as well as the support that they can and do

provide. These stakeholders include education districts, school management teams, school

governing bodies, school based support teams, teachers, school psychologists and other

professionals. The focus on schools will also require an examination of curricular approaches that

meet the educational, developmental, nutritional, health and personal needs of children.

Overview of Research objectives

• The fourth research objective of the Chair is to determine the role that communities play in

contributing to the vulnerabilities of OVC, as well as the support they can and do provide. This will

entail identifying the early childhood education and care facilities available in communities; and

inventorying the financial, regulatory, personnel and other assets they require to support the

unique needs of children from child-headed households. It will also involve investigating the

support role that community organisations, NGOs and religious organisations can play in

childhood education and care specific to OVC.

Overview of Research objectives

• The fifth research objective of the Chair will be to investigate

protective (resilience/strengths/assets) factors within OVC. The

intention is to identify these resiliency factors and design resilience

programmes incorporating these elements for direct teaching to OVC

who are not coping.

Studies of Education and Care in Childhood Protective Factors (Resiliency

Strengths & Assets ) Vulnerability (Risk) Factors

Area/level 1. INDIVIDUAL (OVC)

Studies on :

- Impact on trauma, grief, depression, stress, and anxiety on OVC

- Levels of vulnerability of OVC

- Lived-experiences of OVC (8 to 10 years of age)

Area/level 2. FAMILIES

Studies on :

- Single & Double orphans

- Divorced and single parent families

- Comparative studies with children who have parents

- Experiences and role of caregivers

Area/level 4. COMMUNITY

Studies on :

- Community facilities for OVC

- Role of residential care-centers, community based organizations in supporting OVC

- Long term impact of specific NGOs supporting OVC

Area/level 3. SCHOOL

Studies on:

- Experiences and roles of SMT, SGB, SBST, and Education District Offices in supporting OVC

- Experiences and roles of teachers, school psychologists, etc.

- OVC aftercare and homework support programmes by Department of Education

OVC Support Interventions

Based on all

4 areas /levels

Critical areas for Input from Committee

1. Students:

- Student Intake

- Student Retention

- Student Through-put

2. Publications

3. International Collaborations

4. Additional Research Grants

Way Forward

•Next meeting

• Smaller group meetings

•Quarterly reports

Thank you for your participation