Division of Extra-Mural Services (DEMS)
SAIDE

Context:
While collecting information for this global distance education network, SAIDE held several interviews with organisations in Southern African countries. Impressions of each country were generated to give some introduction to distance education and technology use in the area. Each interview has also been written up separately as a case study.

Source:
SAIDE country visits conducted in 1999

Copyright:
Permission granted

Contact Person: Mr. Almon M. Mkhwanazi
Position: Director
E-mail: almon@uniswac1.uniswa.sz
Fax: 09268 51 85276
Tel: 09268 51 88276
Postal Address Private Bag No 4
Kwaluseni
Swaziland
Date: 8 July 1999

The Division of Extra-Mural Services is part of the University’s outreach programme, taking the University to the people. It combines both formal and non-formal aspects of education and training. These range from University Certificates, Diploma and Degree programmes to short-term non-credit courses to non-formal education and community education programmes.

To be a leading institution in Adult and Continuing Education, Training and Research in the region through a dynamic professional team.

The mission of DEMS is to assume leadership in providing professional Education and Training in Adult and Continuing Education, and help increase the effectiveness of institutions, organisations and community based groups which serve the adult population of Swaziland.

To accomplish this mission DEMS shall:

•Promote the study and teaching of adult and continuing education, and train the growing number of adult educators required in the various sectors of the economy;
•Conduct adult and continuing education programmes on and off campus, making optimum use of University resources with consideration of and in conjunction with other adult education providing agencies. These programmes must be at a level appropriate to the University and should include innovative, experimental and interdisciplinary activities;
•Audit the needs and interests of the local community in adult and continuing education and experiment with varying kinds of educational activities to meet these needs;
•Help to increase Swaziland’s reservoir of trained and skilled middle level human resources;
•Contribute towards institutional capacity building of other adult and continuing education bodies in meeting the needs of the community;
•Carry out research in adult and continuing education and disseminate findings to local and international communities;
•Promote the use of instructional technology and the application of appropriate technology in adult and continuing education programmes;
•Bring the resources of the University to bear on all the community’s problems by helping identify and interpret the effects of the physical, social and economic planning upon communities, and provide a necessary independence of attitude towards problem solving.

DEMS offers two part-time programmes leading to educational qualifications. They are:

This is a 2-year part-time programme for which students must attend courses on campus. It is designed for people who have at least two years’ experience in work related to Adult Education. The minimum admission requirement is a Junior Certificate.

This 2-year programme is offered on a part-time basis. To be enrolled on this programme people need to have:

•either a credit or distinction in the Certificate in Adult Education; or
•a pass in the Certificate in Adult Education plus one year of relevant practical experience after completing the certificate programme;
•alternatively a person may be admitted who has a professional certificate obtained after not less than one academic year of full-time study from a recognised institution;
•at least five passes in O Level including English Language (or an equivalent) and a minimum of two years’ practical experience in work related to adult education.

Staff at DEMS also organise and conduct short courses of a non-certificated type. Staff also teach the Bachelor of Education (Adult Education) degree programme offered through distance education.

This is a 5-year distance education programme offered by the Institute of Distance Education (IDE) of the University of Swaziland. Since expertise in Adult Education is located in the Division, the programme was designed by DEMS staff and is also taught by them through IDE.

For the two part-time Adult Education Programmes, participants are drawn from many departments of both the public service and private enterprises and non-governmental organisations. Many of them are adult educators in the fields of agriculture, health education, commerce, industry, social welfare, community development, the army, correctional services and police.

Participants in the degree programme are former graduates of the Diploma in Adult Education Programme and they are drawn from various departments of both the public and private sector, as well as non-governmental organisations.

While obtaining a diploma or degree does not necessarily guarantee career advancement, many of those who have graduated have been placed in positions of leadership such as co-ordinators of rural education centres, community development officers, extension work supervisors and trainers in government and private sector organisations.

Clearly the primary aim of the division, with its outreach work to all sectors of Swazi society, is service to the community. Maintaining the programmes listed above is the principal occupation of staff members.

There are, however, other ways in which DEMS serves the community. There is an on-going management training programme for police and correctional services. These courses were launched at the request of and in collaboration with police college staff and correctional services personnel.

Each year the division draws up a timetable of short courses in Management, Training and Development, Adult Education, Small Business Management, Computer Literacy, Audio-visual Technology, Stress Management and Retirement. These courses can also be tailor-made to suit organisational needs on request.

The two-year certificate and diploma courses are delivered face-to-face on a part-time basis at DEMS on the campus of the University. In each academic year students have to attend a minimum of six study weekends and four weeks of residential sessions. The study weekends and residential sessions are an integral part of the programme and attendance is compulsory. This type of delivery method is quite problematic for two main reasons: students find it difficult to get time off to attend and inadequate classroom and sleeping accommodation remains a challenge. Tutors provide students with supporting materials, which are in the form of notes.

Within the diploma course use is made of audio and videotapes. DEMS staff borrow generic video tapes on different aspects of management from the library, the American Cultural Centre and the British High Commission. Students often supply information about relevant supporting video materials through their contacts in the corporate sector.

An effective method of helping students to improve their training methods for adults is to videotape their practical training sessions. Practicals are a compulsory feature of both the certificate and diploma courses.

In the communication skills course DEMS staff organise for their part-time students to make use of the University’s laboratory facilities.

The Adult Education Degree Course uses good distance education methods. Students receive well-designed course materials, which they can study in their own time. Experienced tutors, mainly drawn from DEMS staff, offer them support in the form of face-to-face tutorials, which are organised at regular intervals.

The students enrolled in the programmes offered by DEMS are people who work in the field of adult education. The practical thrust of the learner support strategies is designed to enable students to become more effective as adult educators. Apart from the academic support which has been outlined in the previous section, DEMS offers students the following services:

Informal counselling

The coordinator of each programme is available to students for guidance and advice about any aspect of the programme. An orientation session is held at the beginning of the year and students are given information about the course, how they will be assessed and how they should approach their studies.

At the end of a semester the students’ progress is reviewed and where necessary students receive additional counselling and guidance.

Staff interact with students who are enrolled in the part-time courses and short courses and who attend the workshops and seminars conducted by DEMS. Issues of common interest are discussed and staff provide assistance and guidance depending on participants’ needs.

Access to the University’s facilities where indicated

DEMS arranges for its students to make use of computer and internet facilities as part of the communications skills aspect of the courses for which they have enrolled .

Outreach News – sharing information

In March 1999 DEMS circulated its first newsletter. The major purpose is to inform students and the public about the diverse activities carried out by DEMS and the work done by students. Information about forthcoming training workshops and seminars which would be of interest to DEMS students are included in the newsletter.

Both certificate and diploma courses have practical outcomes. For example in the diploma course the students should be able to:

•Use adult education and training methods that are appropriate for their situation;
•Communicate more effectively and relate better with the people with whom they work;
•Supervise and manage a wide variety of adult instructional programmes, both form and non-formal;
•Plan and evaluate adult education programmes;
•Design and develop resource materials that will be useful in their job.

The assessment of practical skills forms an integral part of the assessment strategy and continuous assessment is used in both programmes. The year mark counts for 50% and is made of up the following components: 60% for tests, which are conducted during study weekends and residential sessions, and 40% for assignments and/or a guided field project. The examination at the end of the year counts for 50%.

As a rule students are not allowed to retry for the examination but concessions may be given in special situations.

Staff may attend workshops, seminars and conferences relevant to their work within budgetary constraints. DEMS has relied in the past on training and development opportunities organised by DEASA and COL. No formal induction programme exists for staff but new staff are given informal support when they join DEMS.

Adult education remains a key area of focus and activity on the educational agenda in Swaziland. Wherever possible DEMS links up and works with people and organisations that provide adult education and training in the public and private sectors.

The division continues to receive co-operation from staff of other departments who have specialised knowledge and skills required for the outreach programme. DEMS has used the services of staff from the Maths and Computer Department, Law Department, Department of Politics and Public Administration and the Department of Business Administration.

DEMS offers technical support to Sebenta, the National Literacy Institute, through the committee structure of the institute. The director of DEMS is a member of the Board of Sebenta.

DEMS functions as the secretariat for the Swaziland Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) and for the Swaziland Association of Adult Education (SAAE). These organisations provide adult education services to their members through workshops and seminars.

The division collaborates with various relevant regional and international associations such as the Distance Education Association of Southern Africa (DEASA); the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE); the Commonwealth Association for the Education and Training of Adults (CAETA); and the German Adult Education Association (DVV).

The division has been in existence for some twenty years and during this time it has grown in experience in the area of adult education. DEMS has played a major role in building the capacity of adults who are involved in a range of organisations in Swaziland: in non-governmental organisations, in government departments, in agriculture, in health, in community development, in the rural areas. Over the years DEMS has worked with a number of people, organisations and associations and has succeeded in establishing a network of contacts, which continues to enhance its own work.

DEMS graduates are working with community groups in income generating projects such as helping communities to build water reservoirs to water vegetable gardens, encouraging small groups to do basic crafts such as making candles, soap, woodwork, clothes.

The most challenging aspect of the division’s work is to meet the increasing needs and demands with inadequate financial and human resources. The complement of staff is stretched and is barely able to cope with present needs. As a result no time is left for conducting serious research in this important area.