Voortgesette opleiding in maatskaplike werk

M.A. (Social Work)Continuing education is an indispensable activity in any profession, including Social Work. The constant increase and renewal of knowledge and the learning and refining of practice skills are necessitated by the rate at which knowledge is generated in the twentieth century as well as rapid societal changes. At the same time the profession faces new demands, particularly those which are relevant to accountability, while social work aspirations towards professional status are sustained.Continuing education has for a very long time been an acknowledged and established component of social workers' activities, yet up till now, very little research has been done on this particular subject. In this study,· the following aspects of continuing education in Social Work are explored: it's principles and aims, the provision of training opportunities by educational institutions in South Africa and social workers' motivation for, participation in, and needs regarding continuing education. In chapter two, continuing education is defined in its relation to recurrent education, formal, non-formal and informal education, adult education and professional training. Attention is also paid to activities that constitute continuing education in Social Work. It is being argued that continuing education is supplementary to preparatory training, that it improves social workers' professional efficiency and that it stimulates the process of professionalization. Furthermore, it is instrumental in the provision of high level manpower for the profession and it contributes towards the maintenance of the corps of social workers by preventing professional burnout..