Valuable work being done

THERE is a learner support agent (LSA) programme within the Department of Education that addresses issues of orphans and vulnerable children at school.

Those are with problems that are barriers to learning, such as HIV/Aids and TB, violence, drug usage, teen pregnancy, behavioural problems, peer pressure, access to identification documents and social grants, and negligence at home.

The LSAs are based at schools, and are working hand in hand with the teachers, heads of department and the school management teams.

The LSA’s duties, among other things, are to make necessary interventions to those orphans and vulnerable children at personal, classroom, and at home level by conducting interviews and home visits, and making referrals to relevant departments trying to make interventions that will assist to improve those issues.

They do advocacy, peer education and awareness campaigns.

They work with groups and at classroom levels doing peer education, teaching study skills, running homework clubs and giving motivational talks.

They work in collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as the health department, child welfare, social development, the police, community leaders, the municipality, NGOs and former pupils, and do interviews with local radio stations.

All of this is done to combat the challenges that may hinder the child from coping and functioning progressively academically, psycho-socially and otherwise.

The downside of this initiative is that the LSAs may not be fully supported by some school management teams.

Some departments may take too long to make interventions, such as finding a psychologist for trauma counselling or determining the psychological state of the pupil who is not coping for the child to be taken to a relevant school.

Some pupils may need to be taken to a rehab centre or a place of safety. The school would have done all the necessary requirements, but the relevant department where the pupil is referred to will make very little or no progress at all.

For such a wonderful programme to be a success all the relevant stakeholders must come on board with a high level of commitment to save our pupils and make our schools places of hope.

Arnaldo Nombambela, Port Elizabeth