Strategies for Sustaining the Accreditation of Bachelor of Social Work in South Africa

Abstract

The Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) play vital roles as accreditation bodies in ensuring the quality of Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programmes in South Africa. However, the intermittent de-accreditation of BSW programmes poses a significant and recurring challenge for numerous South African higher education institutions (SAHEIs). This article, grounded in William Pinar's curriculum theory within a constructivist paradigm, proposes strategies to sustain BSW programmes in alignment with CHE and SACSSP norms and standards. Given the limited literature on this topic, a narrative literature review methodology was employed, drawing thematic insights from related articles, CHE and SACSSP documents, and my firsthand experience being involved in institutional audits. The thematic analysis of the findings reveals challenges, such as gaps in curriculum design, misalignment of norms and standards with CHE and SACSSP objectives, a shortage of qualified staff, infrastructural deficiencies, and insufficient capacity development. Therefore, the article proposes practical strategies to address the complex issues associated with de-accreditation of BSW programmes, aiming to help SAHEIs sustain accreditation for this crucial programme.