In South African secondary schools there are learners who undergo a daily struggle with
social and emotional problems. The problems learners struggle with include problems
like drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, domestic violence, peer pressure, anorexia,
bulimia, stress, bullying, and many more.
These problems often result in learners experiencing a great deal of pressure. They
sometimes feel hopeless as they fail to find suitable solutions for their problems. They
often feel alone and as though there is no one whom they can share their problems with
and who truly understands.
A Peer Helper Programme is a programme that focuses on training a selective group of
learners to be peer helpers. A peer helper is someone who understands or someone of
more or less the same age as the person seeking for help, has empathy, good listening
and communication skills, and offers help and understanding in times of need.
A literature study has been undertaken to give the precise description of the concept of
peer help, to determine the task and function of a peer helper and to establish what
exactly the training of a peer helper should encompass. The results obtained from this
information allowed the setting of guidelines for the implementing of a peer helper
programme for the effective training of peer helpers.
An empirical study was executed to establish the nature and scope of the problems
learners in secondary schools in the Klerksdorp school district experience and their
needs concerning peer helping. From this study it was concluded that a need exists for
peer helping programmes as well as guidelines for the design and implementation of a
peer helper programme. Questionnaires were used and the following can be concluded
from the investigation:
There is an existing need for a peer helper programme as learners who
experience problems will rather share this with a peer before telling an older
person.
A set of guidelines need to be put into place for the implementation of a peer
helper programme.
To conclude the recommendation is made at the end of this study that a peer helper
programme needs to be implemented in every school in the various school districts and
that it should stand under the management of the school principle and the assistance of
the guidance teacher. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/1079 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Kanes, Theodora Petronella |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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