ABSTRACT
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a need for supported education practices in social work education and training in South Africa was highlighted. Previous studies reported on students’ educational and psychosocial challenges, including demands of the social work profession experienced during fieldwork placements. This chapter reports on a qualitative study that explored how the pandemic further contributed to these educational and psychosocial challenges for final year student social workers. The findings reported on identified students’ educational needs in becoming competent and confident social worker graduates and the psychological support needed to address mental health issues impacting their readiness for practice that became apparent during the pandemic. Academic resources and key role-players required to support them to prepare for practice were identified as technological resources and contact and access to lecturers and social work supervisors. The critical reflections on learning and teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic by participating students supported the recommendations made in this chapter regarding adaptations needed in fieldwork modules to ensure preparedness for practice when academic life is disrupted.
Ngaphambi kobhubhani we-COVID-19, imfuno yemfundo exhaswayo kwimfundo yentlalontle kunye noqeqesho eMzantsi Afrika yaphawulwa. Izifundo zangaphambili zinike ingxelo malunga nemingeni yezemfundo kunye neengqondo zabafundi bezentlalontle, ezibandakanya iimfuno zomsebenzi wentlalontle ofunyenwe ngexesha lokufakwa komsebenzi. Esi sahluko sinikela ingxelo ngophononongo lomgangatho oluphonononge ukuba lo bhubhani ube negalelo njani na ngakumbi kule mingeni yezemfundo neyengqondo yabafundi boonontlalontle abakunyaka wokugqibela. Iziphumo ezichazwe kwiimfuno zemfundo zabafundi ezichongiweyo ukuze babe ngabaphumeleleyo kunye nokuzithemba koonontlalontle, kunye nenkxaso yengqondo efunekayo ukujongana nemiba yempilo yengqondo echaphazela ukulungela kwabo ukuziqhelanisa nokuye kwabonakala ngexesha lobhubhani. Iingcinga ezibalulekileyo zokufunda nokufundisa ngexesha lobhubhani we-COVID-19 ngabafundi abathatha inxaxheba zixhase izindululo ezenziwe kwesi sahluko malunga nohlengahlengiso olufunekayo kwiimodyuli zomsebenzi wangaphandle ukuqinisekisa ukulungela ukuziqhelanisa xa ubomi bokufunda buphazamisekile.
