Onderwysers se persepsies oor die impak van vaderloosheid op kinderontwikkeling

Abstract

Fatherlessness is a serious problem in South Africa and statistics show a high rate of children growing up without parents and particularly without a biological father. An estimated nine million children in South Africa are growing up without a father (Statistics South Africa [StatsSA], 2010). Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) (2010) highlights the systematic disappearance of the traditional family structure among South African families. According to their statistics, only 27% of South African children live with their biological parents, which is a further indication of the increasing number of children in South Africa that come from fatherless homes. In light of the above, the primary goal of the study was to determine teachers‟ perceptions on the impact of fatherlessness on child development. A literature review was undertaken to analyse and describe the effect of fatherlessness on child development from Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecosystemic perspective. Secondly, a case study was conducted to qualitatively explore the perceptions of primary school teachers on the effect of fatherlessness on child development. The data was gathered by means of focus group interviews and analysed. The following findings arose from the empirical study: * Fatherlessness has an effect on virtually all facets of child development (emotional, social, moral, spiritual, cognitive and physical). * Fatherlessness implies the absence of a father, whether it is because of death, physical absence (lives and works elsewhere), a lack of involvement (the so-called present-absent father) or that the identity of the father is unknown. * Fatherless learners need special intervention strategies to support their development. * The types of intervention strategies include emotional support, opportunities for male gender role identification and community awareness projects on fatherlessness. * Aside from the material support some teachers offer to the learners, the school does not provide any formal support to fatherless learners. Recommendations are made, in accordance with the findings, in regard to the support of fatherless learners.