Evaluation of an Employee Assistance Programme among Secondary School educators in Mafikeng Area Project office

Abstract

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) has been performing within organisations as a function within the Human Resources Management (HRM). Studies have been conducted in EAP dwelling into their functioning and efficacy of addressing the employee's problems within the various workplaces. The aim of this research was to evaluate the functioning, efficacy, as well as the drivers of an efficient Employee Assistance Programme for secondary school educators in the Mafikeng Area Project Office, North West Province. The study also aimed at developing and providing recommendatory guidelines to encourage secondary school Employee Assistance Programme Coordinators (EAPC's) and the North West Department of Basic Education (NWDoBE) to establish EAP's. where such do not exist. The study also aimed at developing and providing recommendatory guidelines to encourage secondary school employee Assistance Programme Coordinators (EAPC's) and the North West Basic Education (NWDoBE) to establish EAP's where such do not exist. A questionnaire was administered to collect information from educators and school management teams. A total of 94 respondents returned questionnaires out of 144 distributed, who were randomly selected from each of 18 secondary schools in the Mafikeng APO, North -west Province. The research found that not all secondary schools have an Employee Assistance Programme Coordinator, and a development and implementation policy on EAP. However, the aim of this research was not to analyse and critique the North West Department of Basic Education and the Mafikeng APO. The core aim was to assess the implementation and effectiveness of EAP's in the Mafikeng APO for secondary school educators. Some Secondary school educators in Mafikeng APO were generally satisfied with the services that are rendered by Employee Assistance Programmes, whereas other respondents indicated the low levels of satisfaction with the EAP in their various places of work.