Asentamientos Humanos sin Acuerdo de Intención

4.7.1.1 Demographics

Moira is 30, married and has one child. She is an educator.

4.7.1.2 Home/Family

Ek het baie min uitdagings ervaar. My man was die meeste van die naweke weg as gevolg van sportverpligtinge dus was dit baie maklik vir my om oor naweke te werk of klas te loop. Ek het baie ondersteuning van my ouers en my man gekry. My man is ook koshuisvader by 'n skool en ek hoef daarom geen kos te maak nie aangesien ons kos in die koshuis. Baie ondersteuning van my ouers en familie. (Pgs.2&3)

Moira wrote she experienced very little challenges. Her husband often went away because of sport commitments over the weekends. She was able to work on her assignments or to attend lectures over the weekends, while he was away. She received much support from her parents, family and her husband. Her husband was in charge of the learners at a boarding school and she did not cook any meals because they got food from the school.

4.7.1.3 Work/Colleagues

Wiening uitdagings by die werk aangesien ek reeds 9 jaar in 'n leerondersteuningspos is bepaal ek my eie werkstempo en het ek nie soveel druk soos gewone onderwysers nie. Baie ondersteuning van my werk deurdat ek die dae wat ons klas gehad het die skool vroeer kon verlaat. Baie ondersteuning van kollegas deurdat hul my aangemoedig en ondersteun het. Hul het ook verstaan as ek weens my studies nie fuksies kon bywoon nie. (Pg.3)

Moira also had very few challenges at work. She has been a learning support educator for nine years and was able to work at her own pace. She said she did not have as much work pressure as the ordinary educator. The days she taught at school she was able to leave early. She received a lot of support at work.

Yum et al. (2005) believed, like this part-time student, those students who were able to negotiate developed a sense of belonging.

Kember (1999) declared some employers are highly supportive of study and allow time from work for study which supports Moira's statement.

4.7.1.4 Social

Aangesien ek die meeste van my werk naweke kon doen wanneer my man nie tuis was nie, was ek normaalweg voor met my werk. Dus kon ek steeds my vriende inpas. Baie ondersteuning deurdat die meeste van my vriende nagraads studeer. (Pg.4)

Because Moira was able to do most of her work over the weekends, when her husband was not at home, she was able to continue with her studies. By having the time to do her assignments and lectures over the weekends, she was still able to have time with her friends. Once again she was well supported by her friends because most of them were also doing postgraduate studies.

The students who were able to negotiate with the different domains, be it partner/spouse, family, friends and work were more likely to complete their courses (Yum et al., 2005).

4.7.1.5 Financial

Alhoewel die studies duur was het ek nog geen ander finansiele verpligtinge (bv. kinders) gehad nie en kon dit daarom bekostig. My skoonouers het my finale jaar se studies betaal. (Pg.4)

Moira wrote the course was expensive but she did not have any other financial obligations e.g. children, and therefore she could afford to study. Her parents-in-law paid for her final year of studies.

4.7.1.6 Institution

Ek was aan die begin by verward maar het geen kans verby laat gaan om uit te vind hoe dinge werk en wat ek moet doen nie. Ek het baie ondersteuning van biblioteekpersoneel, HUMARGA personeel gekry. (Pg.4)

Moira wrote in the beginning, when she began at the institution of higher education, she was very confused. She made sure that at every available opportunity she had, she would find out how things worked and what was expected of her. She received much help from the library and Information Technology personnel.

Anderson et al. (2008) believe, like this student did, the student needs to be an agentic person i.e. to be self-motivated, self-directed, tenacious, and persistent and possess the necessary academic skills will do well. Moira, like Hill, Lomas and Mac Gregor (2003:19) state, students "valued the higher education institution support networks".

4.7.1.7 Other challenges/Support

Die hoeveelheid werk was aan die begin baie oorwerldigend. Ek moes mooi kom bymekaar hou om nie deurmekaar te raak nie. Miskien sou ek aanbeveel dat ons eers een module voltooi alvorens ons met 'n volgende een begin. (Pg.5)

Moira found the amount of work she did was over-whelming. She tried to keep abreast of things so that she did not get bogged down. She suggested students complete one module before they start the next one.

Moira being a determined, agentic person echoes the characteristics and requirements of a good part-time student in the following researchers' research: Yum et al. (2005:316) mention determination to complete the course the student chooses, needs to be supported by the student being prepared for it, having/developing "the necessary qualities for self-managed learning," and being motivated by intrinsic interest. Lowe and Gayle (2007:234) state "students achieving good manageable work/life/study balance appeared to be their coping strategies and resilience and the quality of support received from their families, employers, fellow students and from the institution".

4.7.2 Albert's response

4.7.2.1 Demographics

Albert is 48 years old, single and a School Psychologist.

4.7.2.2 Home/Family

Living alone – have to do things on my own. Little support at home and enough support from my father. (Pg.2)

Albert like many part-time students, now and before need to take heed of what Kember (1999:110) has to say: "study, therefore, has to be accommodated alongside an existing web of ties, obligations and duties".

4.7.2.3 Work/Colleagues

Very little, if any support at work. My colleagues are not dependable. Not much support from them one or two may enquire. (Pg.2)

Kember and Leung (2004) found, like Albert, intrinsic and extrinsic support or the lack thereof a prominent issue.

4.7.2.4 Social

Do not have any close friends. Not much support. (Pg.2)

4.7.2.5 Financial

Extreme lack of support: No help from WCED or US. Forced me to quit. (Pg.3)

Carney et al. (2005) recommend the University Support Services' objective be to address the financial challenges faced by the part-time student population.

4.7.2.6 Institution

Travelling from B-West to US for contact sessions. Working, while studying. Finance. Support from my employer (WCED)-nil. Being in a Rural Area. Not doing the M.Ed (Psych) that I really want to or should do.

Luna and Medina (2005) also found in their research, like this student, higher education institutions are often not accessible to students because they live far away. Transport is required to reach the higher education institutions. In some instances public transport is not available e.g. in rural areas.

4.7.2.7 Other challenges/Support

Die WCED kon meer gedoen het om my te help om 'n "Registerd Ed Psychologist" te word, sodat ek 'n beter diens kon lewer namens hulle; bv. om studieverlof toe te laat, met finansiële hulp(Beurse). Beter erkenning van my kwalifikasies, ervaring en senioriteit. Beter samewerking tussen WCED en US om verdere studie vir werknemers in verafgeleë plekke moontlik te maak. Ek voel daar word nog sterk teen my gediskrimineer. I am still in the "Struggle." Ek is nou 14jaar in hierdie diens en 12jaar daarvan het ek geveg vir 'n beter bedeling, maar sonder sukses. (Pg.3)

Albert found the distance he travelled was very tiring. Working in a demanding, full time position and studying at the same time was another challenge. Albert found part-time studies

expensive: fees, accommodation, travelling expenses, etc. He received no support from his employer, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and he felt some compensation was due because he lived in a rural area.

He was upset because he did not have the necessary qualifications according to the higher education institution to do his M. Ed. (Psych). He had his mind set on doing his M. Ed. (Psych.).

Walters (1982) writes it is important for institutions to focus on the working class people and their needs because many are doing part-time studies and she added if the lecturers gave the students support they fared better. Albert states that he did not receive such consideration.

Albert wrote he felt the WCED could have done more to get him registered as an Educational Psychologist. He felt he could have done excellent work for them. If they had granted him study leave and helped him financially with a bursary he would have found the financial assistance of great help. The higher education institution he felt should have recognised his qualifications, experience and seniority and allowed him the chance to pursue his dream.

Gustavsson (as cited in Walters, 1997) reiterates inclusion of students like Albert; one needs to build upon what the person has learned before and therefore the higher education institutions need to consolidate the student's knowledge with what they need to learn for the institution.

Gouthro (as cited in Cooper and Walters, 2009) suggests, those who educate adults should consider whether by adhering to maintain and champion educational movements that are commissioned by the government and corporate sector, or whether they have a vital role to play in evaluating the evolving purpose of adult education.

Thomas (cited in Lowe and Gayle, 2007) emphasizes the following: the higher education institutions (lecturers) should welcome the diversity of part-time students and not expect them to be the same.

Albert adds there should be communication between the university and the WCED to enable people in faraway areas to study.

He feels he was still being discriminated against. He felt as if he was still in the apartheid era. He had been working for the department for fourteen years and twelve of those years he had been fighting for a better dispensation but to no avail.