Schools
In my first year of counseling, I recognized a pattern regarding the learners who had been sent to me for counsel due to anti social behavior. More than 80% of them were in and had repeated grade 10. We conducted assessments with these learners which determined that they were mostly practical minded learners. Some had Mild Intellectual Disabilities (MID) and others had significant Barriers to Learning.
The public secondary school system is a melting pot of all learning types and competence levels, yet all our learners get bottle necked through the academic system of teaching being evaluated by one standard.
Many struggling learners become marginalized and are branded by educators as trouble makers. These learners find refuge among others of like circumstances forming troublesome groups who rebel against authority order and structure because they cant see any way forward for their lives. It is not surprising that 80% of prisoners have learning disabilities.
School becomes a glorified day care center for inattentive parents and social gathering spot for learners who struggle in the mainstream of academics. Parents are ill informed about options in Further Education and Training which in itself has become horribly dysfunctional.
In poverty stricken communities many parents just don’t care about supporting their kids through their education and view going to school as a natural part of life that we all have to follow rather than seeing education as a means to end the cycle of poverty.
Our government has failed to recognize the need for alternative schooling systems that cater for the broad range of Special Needs learners and the role that these young people could fill in our economy.
God has given every person intelligence in a unique set of natural gifts, abilities, talents, passions and interests. These abilities are meant to empower our lives. Preventing our youth from falling through the cracks of the Education system by introducing early identification and assessments of learning types coupled with career guidance and counselling should be incorporated into every school.
Community
There has been a sharp decline in the behaviour patterns of the youth in our schools and communities over the past 30 years. Many students that display antisocial behaviour at school have problems that stem from theirhome life and the socio economic challenges of their immediate environment. From a very young age children are in contact with all kinds of negative elements of the “real world.” These negative elements play a huge role in influencing the mindsets of our youth.
Broken family structures force children into self preservation or survival far too early in their lives. Unfortunately this leads to all kinds of dysfunctional behavior and social ills that inevitably finds its way into our schools.
Discipline represents one side of the hand of authority, order and structure. Whilst this is a good and effective approach and has its place, we are equally responsible to provide a counter balance. This is why “rehabilitation”must be a priority and should represents the compassionate nurturing and development side of the same hand of discipline.
Rehabilitating young lives requires a multi faceted approach which has been incorporated into the ethos of Jirah. We addresses this shortfall by empowering our youth through our holistic Life Skills Training Programmewhich is designed to rebuild their identity by helping them to draw clear distinctions in their thinking.
We are able to achieve this by equipping them with information and an understanding regarding the principles that govern life. This allows them to re-evaluate their thinking and behavior objectively and allows them to make informed and empowered choices linked to a vision of a better life for themselves and their families.
The promise of a better life by getting qualified and employed plays a huge role in their commitment.
When our true identity is awaken and we can connect with a second chance to attain a better life in a nurturing and supportive environment, then rehabilitation becomes a natural process.
A qualified employed person of sound character translates into an entire household being restored.
JirahProjects: The Heart of the Father for His Children.