An analysis of policies and strategies to reduce poverty

• Main Author: Daniels, Christine Gaynore
• Other Authors: Van Wyk, B.
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
• Subjects: Social action > Citizen participation > South Africa; Theses > Education policy studies; Dissertations > Education policy studies; Social justice > Study and teaching > South Africa; Social work > Education; Education policies > South Africa; Education Policy Studies
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20113

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis I analyse policies and strategies to reduce poverty through education, and the focus is on global and national policies and strategies and I conduct a small-scale investigation into policies and strategies that exist at a local level (local is the Cape Winelands District Municipality). Poverty is one of the core problems facing many South Africans, and by using critical theory as my research methodology I present a different way of thinking about poverty. Education, just like poverty, is a complex concept because education determines human thoughts and actions. The literature review indicates three ways to reduce poverty: job creation, education and skills development. The policy analysis indicates four ways to reduce poverty: empowering the poor, increasing the capabilities of the poor by using education, the challenge of deliberative democracy, and social justice. The interview respondents indicated that these seven ways may have a major influence on their impoverished circumstances. I argue that individuals need to reflect critically on their social well-being in order to transform their lives. Critical reflection by individuals is needed to transform not only themselves, but also their communities, and it is by transformation that individuals can bring change in their social communities in order to achieve social justice. A remaining need I identify is that the South African government need to focus on the goal to halve the number of poor people by 2015 (according to United Nations, Millennium Development Goals). I realise that the government still has much work to do in order to reach this important goal. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek verskeie beleide en strategieë vir armoede verligting op 'n globale, nasionale, en lokale konteks. Weens 'n gebrek aan beleide op lokale vlak onderneem ek 'n klein empiriese studie in die Kaapse Wynlande Distriks Munisipaliteit. Armoede bly een van die hoof uitdagings vir baie Suid-Afrikaners, en deur die gebruik van Kritiese Teorie as navorsings metodologie stel ek daar 'n ander manier om oor armoede te reflekteer. Die literatuur studie wys na drie maniere hoe om armoede te beveg: werkskepping, opvoeding, en die ontwikkeling van vaardighede. Die analiese van beleide dui op vier maniere: bemagtiging van armes, verbreding van vermoeëns duer die gebruik van onderwys, beraadslagende demokrasie, en sosiale geregtigheid. Die response van die onderhoude dui daarop dat hierdie sewe maniere 'n groot invloed kan het op die verbetering van armoedige omstandighede. Ek argumenteer dat persone krities moet reflekteer oor hul sosiale welstand sodat hul lewens kan transformeer. Kritiese refleksie is nodig nie net vir persoonlike transformasie nie, maar ook vir gemeenskappe sodat sosiale geregtigheid kan geskied. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering behoort steeds te strewe om die getal armes te halveer teen 2015, volgens die Verenigde State se Millenium Doelwitte. Ek besef die regering moet nog baie doen om hierdie belangrike mylpaal te bereik.