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The role of educators in enhancing the social wellness of juvenile offenders in Midlands region prison and correctional services in Zimbabwe

Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to examine the role of educators in enhancing the social wellness on juvenile offenders in Zimbabwe. The theoretical framework that underpinned the study was the Wellness Theory of Bill Hettler (1980) used as the lens to explore and generate understanding on how educators enhance the social wellness of juvenile offenders. The study was located within an interpretive paradigm. Qualitative research design and case study approach were used in this study. Moreover, purposive sampling approach was used to select the samples of educators and juvenile learners who responded to the qualitative questionnaires and those who participated in the interviews, which were used for data collection. The research had five educators and ten juvenile offenders who participated at one of the correctional centres in Zimbabwe based on availability and willingness. In addition, the researcher adhered to ethical standards in terms of gaining permission for access, issues of informed consent, voluntary participation, and confidentiality. Data were gathered by means of self-administered qualitative questionnaires with open-ended questions, interviews and observation. The research identified that no research has been carried out in Zimbabwe’s correctional centres to thoroughly explore the role of educators in the enhancement of the social wellness of juvenile offenders. The findings firstly revealed that education promoted the social wellness and resulted in positive behavioural change among juvenile offenders at the correctional centre. Secondly, education promoted the development of various technical skills in juvenile learners, such as agriculture and welding, as well as interpersonal skills such as anger management, respect, problem solving, and communication. The findings revealed that some juvenile offenders developed entrepreneurship skills. Some of the juveniles were making doormats, fence making and plaiting extensions. One of the juveniles had a unique skill in plaiting and braiding. He taught his friends, and now they are plaiting extensions and selling them. Thirdly, the findings revealed that educators are essential in the enhancement of the social wellness of juvenile offenders in an effort to reduce recidivism and facilitation of good and smooth social reintegration into mainstream society after incarceration. The challenges faced by the educators included limited resources and inadequate training as specialists who teach juvenile offenders. It was recommended that educators be empowered through in-service training to enable them to facilitate the capacitation of juvenile learners’ social wellness.
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3164787943
Cites: 62
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Related to: 10