Die geleenthede wat aan leerlinge in die sekondêre skool gebied word vir die ontwikkeling van verantwoordelikheid

D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)A democratic and prosperous society necessitates responsible behaviour from its members. The observation is often made that responsible behaviour is often absent or underdeveloped in society, especially amongst the schoolleaving youth. The development of responsible, well-trained schoolleavers is universally seen as the task of the school. This is because the development of responsibility is usually associated with the aims of the education process and the attainment of adulthood. It is at school that the opportunities may arise to teach, take and experience responsibility. Any of the activities at school may present opportunities which either contribute to the development of responsibility or inhibit it. Great emphasis is placed on the rights of children, yet too little is made of the opportunities which may assist in creating the perception amongst children that they are able to accept and act responsibly. The aspect of creating positive perception about a pupil's own ability is a very important aspect of education as a whole and should be developed to the fullest extent, in order teach and develop responsibility. Schools should take cognizance of this and endeavour to create a climate for pupils in which to accept responsibility. The invitational approach in education is based on the assumption of the perceptual tradition that all people have unrealized potential that may be developed within a climate of trust, intentionality, respect and optimism. In this approach all the participants in the educational process are regarded as responsible, capable and valuable. What teachers believe the pupils to be, they convey to them through their actions, words and the opportunities they present to them. These perceptions influence behaviour. It is therefore imperative that positive perceptions about pupils' ability to accept responsibility and to act independently are created and enhanced. The role of the school in the development of responsibility, the opportunities present for the development of pupils' acceptance of responsibility and the lack of responsible behaviour amongst school leavers, as indicated by employers, prompted the following questions: • does the school present pupils with opportunities to accept responsibility? • to what extent do pupils experience the opportunities to accept responsibility as such