Experiences of offender students who are registered for online modules at Unisa : a case study of Gauteng Correctional facilities

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate experiences of offender students who registered for online modules with the University of South Africa (Unisa) from Correctional facilities in Gauteng. Theories of Transitional Distance and Wellness Model were used as theoretical thoughts for the study. To achieve the objectives of the study, a qualitative research design was adopted, and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Thirteen offender students from one of Gauteng’s Correctional facilities participated in the study. Information concerning the study was communicated to all participants and consent forms were completed after all participants agreed to the terms set out for participation. The study revealed various challenges experienced by offender students such as poor administrative support services by Unisa and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) staff, which excludes offender students from receiving adequate training to use online resources effectively. Further the findings reveal that correctional facilities were not conducive as learning environments because internet access is mostly regarded as a high-risk factor that compromises security at these facilities. Subsequently, applying restrictions to address bridge of security through technology is envisaged as an exclusion of certain learning material by the offender students. The findings highlight the plight of offender students and required learner support services which will enable them to become successful participants in post-school education. The researcher recommends that DCS reforms its practices as the current restrictions technically exclude offender students from accessing education through Open and Distance Learning institutions such Unisa and exposes DCS to possible legal litigation. Given the move by Higher Education institutions towards online mode of education, it is critical that offender students be accommodated in this new dispensation.

Maikemišetšo a nyakišišo ye ebe ele go nyakišiša ditšhitišo tšeo bagolegwa (mapantiti) ba go ithutela le Unisa ba kopanago le tšona ge ba ingwadišitše go ithuta dithuto tša online ba le kgolegong ya Gauteng. Teori ya Transitional Distance gammogo le ya Wellness Model di berekišitšwe bjalo ka dikgopolo tša teori mo nyakišišong. Go fihlelela maikemišetšo a maleba, nyakišišo e ile ya kgetha qualitative design gomme tshedimošo ya kgoboketšwa ka dipoledišano tšeo di beakantšwego. Bagolegwa ba lesometharo ba go ithuta go tswa kgolegong ya Gauteng e bile batšeakarolo ba go ithaopa mo nyakišišong. Tsebo mabapi le nyakišišo e ile ya tlhalosetšwa go batšeakarolo ka moka le diforomo tša tumelelano di tladitšwe ka ge go bile le kwano go mabakana ao a beilwego gore motho a tšee karolo. Ntle le tšeo di fokotšago bophara bja nyakišišo, yona e utulotše ditšhitišo tša go fapafapana tšeo bagolegwa ba go ithuta ba kopanago natšo go swana le thušo ya go fokola ya admin go tswa go bašomi ba Unisa le ba kgoro ya tša kgalemo; tša go se akaretše bagolegwa ba go ithuta go hwetša tlhatlho ya maleba ka tšhomišo ya didirišwa tša go ithutela online. Se sengwe seo se tšweletšego ke gore dikgolego ga se mafelo a maleba a go ithutela ka gobane phihlelelo ya internet e tšewa bjalo ka lebaka la botšhošetši le legolo la go ka bea polokego ya lefelo kotsing. Go tee le seo, go beiwa ga taolo ya tšhitišo bjalo ka mokgwa wa go thibela go tshelwa ga polokego ka technology e bonwa bjalo ka go se akaretšwe go dilo tše dingwe tša go ithuta ke bagolegwa bao ba ithutago. Dipoelo tša nyakišišo ye di bonagatša boima bjo bo rwelego ke bagolegwa bao elego baithuti le hlokego ya thušo ya baithuti yeo ekaba kgontšhago go tšwelela ka morago ga go fetša ditthuto tša bona. Monyakišiši o eletša Kgoro gore e fetole mekgwa ya tshepedišo ya yona ka ge seo se thibela bagolegwa bao elego baithuti go fihlelela thuto ya ODL mafelong a go ithuta go swana le Unisa, ebile seo se bea kgoro sebakeng sa go ka sepetšwa Kgoro ya Tsheko. Ka ge mafelo a thuto ya godimo a tšea kgato ya go fana ka thuto ka mokgwa wa online go bohlokwa kudu gore bagolegwa bao elego baithuti ba akaretšwe mo kgatong ye.

Inhloso yalolucwaningo bekuwukuphenya ngezinselelo ezitholwa ngabafundi asebegwetshiwe ababhalisele amamojula aku-inthanethi ne-Unisa abavela ezikhungweni zoku Hlunyeleliswa Kwezimilo ezise Gauteng. Izinkolelo-mbono zeTransitional Distance and Wellness Model zisetshenziswe njengezinhlaka zethiyori yocwaningo. Ukufezekisa izinhloso zocwaningo kwamukelwa umklamo wocwaningo olulandayo futhi imininingwane yaqoqwa ngezingxoxo - mbuzo. Abafundi abayishumi nantathu asebegwetshiwe ababambe iqhaza ngokwentando yabo bavela esikhungweni esisodwa sokuHlunyeleliswa Kwezimilo eGauteng. Imininingwane ephathelene nalolucwaningo yaziswa bonke ababambe iqhaza futhi amafomu okuvuma agcwaliswa ngemuva kokuba bonke ababambiqhaza bevumilene nemigomo ebekiwe yokuzibandakanya. Ngaphandle kwezinqinamba, lolu cwaningo luveze izinselelo ezahlukahlukene ezibhekana nabafundi ezifana nezinsiza-kufunda ezingezinhle ngakubasebenzi bakwa-Unisa nabasebenzi boMnyango Wezokuhlunyeleliswa Kwezimilo; okunholela ekutheni abafundi abanecala bangatholi uqeqesho olwanele lokusebenzisa izinsiza kusebenza eziku-inthanethi ngempumelelo. Okunye okutholakele ukuthi izindawo abazisebenzisayo azilungisiwe njengezindawo zokufunda ngoba ukufinyelela kwi-inthanethi kubhekwe kakhulu njengento ebeka engcupheni enkulu ezokuphepha kulezizindawo. Ngakhoke, ukusebenzisa imingcele ukusombulula inkinga elethwa ukusebenzisa itheknoloji kubukeka njengokukhishwa inyumbazana ekufinyeleleni kwizinsiza-kufunda zabafundi. Umcwaningi weluleke isikhungo sokubuyekezwa kwenqubo mgomo mayelana nezindlela ezibekiwe zokuvimbela abafundi abasusa udweshu ekutheni bengavunyelwa ukuthi bethole imfundo noma ngabe babuqamama nesikhungo semfundo njenge nyuvesi yase ningizimu neAfrica kuphinde kubekwe iDCS (isigungu sokuqondiswa kwezigwegwe) lapho kudingeka khona imiqathango yezomthetho. Kwizinqumo zesikhungo semfundo ephakeme sokusebenzisa izindlela zobuchwepheshe okanye izinkundla zokuxhumana ekufundeni, kusemqoka okanye kubalulekile ukuba abafundi abasuse odweshu nabo bafukanyelwe kulouhlelo olusha lwemfundo.