NATIONAL HOUSING SCHOLARSHIP HOLDERS RETREAT REPORT

DATE: 13-15 APRIL 2007

VENUE: KOPANONG HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE

PURPOSE:

The retreat was held aimed at achieving the following objectives:

Ø      To build a strong relationship between the Department and the learners;

Ø      To provide learners with a sense of belonging to housing fraternity;

Ø      To instill and highlight the importance of upholding the contract agreement between parties; and

Ø      To motivate learners to view their studies as a stepping forward self development which will lead to social development

DAY ONE

ARRIVAL & WELCOME

The students were warmly welcomed by the Directorate: Capacity Building officials.  The response in attendance was good; twenty nine out of a total of thirty five students honoured the invitation. Other students who could not make it had prior pressing commitments and apologized for their absence.

DAY TWO  

OPENING & WELCOME

Mr J Leshabane (then Acting Deputy Director General) opened the gathering and welcomed both students and Department’s officials. He outlined the purpose and importance of the gathering to the Department and the country.  Mr Leshabane made an undertaking and emphasized the need to hold similar gatherings in future with the aim of gradually introducing students into the housing family and eventually be part of the housing sector embracing its mission and vision.

SETTING THE SCENE

Setting the scene for an informative day of sharing and empowerment, Mr Leshabane addressed students about issues ranging from dangers and challenges associated with tertiary institutions such as drugs and alcohol, as well also the need for them not to allow the situations they come across to define them and, to realise that the opposite of absolute freedom is absolute responsibility. He explained that while studying at the expense of the Department, the young people are regarded as ambassadors of the institution who will come back to assist in resolving the problems and challenges facing the Department. He indicated that the scholarship is not a favor but, a commitment for the students to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to make the Department and the nation proud.

ROUND OF INTRODUCTIONS

Introduction of participants was done, with each participant indicating also the field of study registered and with which institution of higher learning.  After introduction part was done, students were requested to write down their expectations on cue cards.  They were asked to include other issues pertaining to the Scholarship programme as well.  Some of the expectations raised by the students are captured underneath:

Ø      Full support in terms of registration, tuition, prescribed books and learning material, meals and accommodation;

Ø      Provide additional learning equipment like flash disc (USB), etc;

Ø      Placement when it comes to in-service training and work after studies;

Ø      Follow up progress report on academic performance and social challenges done on a monthly basis;

Ø      Forge better relationship between the Department and institutions bursary officers;

Ø      Payment of all relevant fees on time; and

Ø      Results of interviews should be made available before the reopening of institutions; etc

CHALLENGES  EXPERIENCE BY STUDENTS

Students were requested to mention experiences and challenges that they are facing at the university during their studies. The following are some of the challenges.

Ø      Meeting and adapting to new people;

Ø      Dealing with the new acquired independence;

Ø      Coping with the high workload;

Ø      Boring lectures arising out of text book method;

Ø      Complex adaptation process to new environment, languages and study field;

Ø      Balancing academic and social responsibility;

Ø      Working under pressure (writing three class tests in a day);

Ø      Improving and maintaining self confidence;

Ø      Working hard to prove oneself in ones studies; and

Ø      Dealing with the household course ( cooking and washing for oneself)

BURSARY AGREEMENT

Mr Majenge (Senior Legal Administrative Officer at NDoH) made a presentation on the Bursary Contract. He went through the contract page by page explaining all important and key clauses which impact on the relationship between the Department and the students in detail. Rights and obligations of students and their parents/ guardians were also highlighted. Students were also taken through how the document should be completed including signatures.

GROUP WORK

A group session was then held where four groups were constituted and students were assigned different topics pertaining to housing to interrogate and discuss. Group names and topics were allocated as follows:

SITE VISITS

The afternoon session was a site visits within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality to visit three projects.

The first site visit entailed a visit to an informal settlement upgrade project in Chief Albert Lithuli Extension 4 section.  Officials from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality accompanied students and officials to the sites.  The project consisted of residents who were resettled from one area that was hazardous for human settlement because of waste and mine dumps.  Students were allowed to enter into a number of houses to see the designs and interact with residents.

The second project is located at Mayfield Extension 8 section and is a Greenfield development.  Houses are still under construction on this site. The project uses revised house plans to construct 40m² houses.  The official from Ekurhuleni Metro gave brief information about the project.  The students scrutinized the houses under construction.  

The third visit was to an inner city Social housing project in Germiston.  At the site officials of the Social Housing Institution explained to students what social housing is about and gave a brief history of the project. Students were taken to occupied residential units consisting of one, two and three units.  Students were amazed by the low rentals that are being paid by occupants and the high quality of the structures.

LIFE SKILLS

A presentation on life skills was made by two NDoH officials from HR.  The presentation included a section on HIV/ Aids awareness.  Other areas that were dealt with were aimed to empower students to deal and cope with personal problems which entailed:

Ø      Effective study methods and exam preparation;

Ø      Peer pressure;

Ø      Identity crisis; and

Ø      Coping with emotional trauma.

The evening was concluded with a Candle Light Memorial Dinner.

DAY THREE

GROUP REPORTBACKS

The third and last day of the session started with report back presentations by the four groups mentioned above.  All presentations were excellently presented. The Department should be proud of the calibre of students it has awarded scholarships to.  In their presentations students displayed depth in terms of understanding housing issues and also what happens around them.

BNG & HOUSING DELIVERY CHAIN PRESENTATION

Mr Leshabane made a presentation on the “Breaking New Ground Strategy”.  He explained in detail the mandate of the Department, challenges faced roles of the different role players within the housing delivery chain, achievements made and how the Strategy will assist the Department to be more efficient and effective in terms of housing delivery. Lastly, it was indicated how the students fit in the picture by outlining the careers within the housing sector.

CONCLUSION

Students came to value the role and impact made by the Department in housing delivery.  A lasting and positive relationship was made by the Department with students in the process.  The students interacted with each other beyond study field and institution of higher learning.

Beyond this, the retreat provided the much needed environment and opportunity to interact and contain students’ expectations by emphasizing aspects covered by the scholarship as well as exclusions.  The Department explained among others that it would not be in a position to purchase Laptop computers for students. It further called on the students to do their best and contribute financially to complement the Department’s efforts. The Department promised to act diligently in the administration of the scholarship and called upon students to do their best to acquire knowledge and achieve academic success.

It was proposed that to further strengthen the relationship with students, officials should avail themselves to assist and serve as mentors for students.

CLOSURE

The Director: Capacity Building Ms Mbele thanked all the participants for making the retreat a resounding success and closed the session.