OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL

WORK TRAINEES OF NEPAL

Amit Kumar Yadav (cldt cd/)

Social work The International Federation of Social

Workers states that social work “recognizes the complexity of interactions between human beings and their environment, and the capacity of people both to be affected by and to alter the multiple influences upon them including bio-psychosocial factors”.

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives

a. Knowledge : Learning of previously learned materials

b. Comprehension: Translating material from one form to another ( Explaining or summarizing)

c. Application: Ability to used learned material in new and concrete situation

d. Analysis: break down material into its components parts so that its organizational structure may be understood.

e. Synthesis: Ability to put part together to form a new whole.

f. Evaluation: Ability to judge the value of material (statement, novel, research report etc) for a given purpose.

Social work profession in Nepal St. Xavier College- 1996 Profession or Discipline?

Methodology Problem Formulation Research Objectives- To find out the Opportunities and Challenges

faced by social work trainee in class room learning process

- To explore the opportunities and challenges faced by social work trainees in field work practice

- To find out the importance and relevance of contextualized social work practice in Nepal with special reference to the methods of social work

Scope of the studyThe finding of the study can be utilized by social work learners, social work institutions, social work professionals, social work faculties of the country or of places which has similar background of Nepal

Research DesignExplorative research design Universe and sampling- All the social work learners of Nepal who are

getting formal education from recognized institutions of Nepal Government

- Non probability Sampling methods Sources and Tools of data collection Experience of the researcher during data

collection

Limitation of the Study Since the study was academic in nature it was time bound, limited

to six months. The tool used for the study, that is, questionnaire had its own

limitations. Researcher was not able to interview face to face and as such, he was not able to cross question the respondents or clarify certain queries. Further, many of the questions were open-ended due to which certain questions were answered subjectively.

Though the researcher had planned for a pilot study in order to rectify the limitations of the questionnaire, the researcher could not carry out the pilot study due to the difficulty of contacting the respondents in the initial stage.

The respondents were not ready to reveal certain confidential matters of their academics such as name of the institution, and family background due to instability of political situation. Certain questions were left unanswered by the respondents.

The sample size was too small compared to the unknown population which included all the social work learners of Nepal.

Only learners who have access to computer or laptop or internet could be part of the research, but the students who do not use internet, could not be covered under the study.

Opportunities and Challenges faced by SWT in classroom learning process

Syllabus?BSW and BASW Subject matter?Assignments and Learner’s Presentation (Class presentations)?Classroom learning methods?Group Discussion?Organizing seminars and conferences?Fulltime/Part-time lecturers?Social work Lecturers?Department of social work?Library?Professional involvement?

Opportunities and Challenges faced by social work Trainees in Field work

Placement? Fieldwork days? Work done by Trainees? Supervisors? IC, TC and GC? Professional Guidance by Faculty supervisor and

Field Supervisor? Opportunity to involvement in planning process? Recognition? Implementation of own idea? Objectives then activities or activities then

objectives?

Importance and relevance of indigenous knowledge in social work practice with

special reference to the methods of social work

Who are social worker? NGO employee? Politicians? Social work degree Holder?o Which methods needs more focus in our Country? Uniqueness of Social work- Role in community- Action against social issues and problems- Social worker works by heart

Challenges and opportunities for social work

Social work institutionsSocial work Lecturers

Social work Trainees

Social work is a PROFESSION or DISCIPLINE?

Recommendations Strengthen the curriculum Participatory teaching methods (Be like teacher- Teacher or student-

Student) Presentations Organize seminar and conferences Assignments Need for fulltime lectures Library development (e-library, magazines, journals etc) ASK (Attitude, Skill and knowledge) development Resource persons Use multi sensory devices Need for Association and council Focus on I/N/GOs, CBOs, Local organizations Need more area for field work Compulsory Block placement system Need more focus on Community organization and social action for

overall development of community and nation

Social action by social worker not by politicians

IC, TC and GC should not me neglected Explore and provide opportunities to

practice all the methods in field work Need a clear definition of Social worker Social work trainee should have clear

action plan for field work Efforts must be made to publish

materials, books, journals, research particularly Nepal based Social work

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST SOCIAL WORKER NEED TO WORK

RATHER THAN TALK

THANK YOUYOUR QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK PLEASE….