Nhlanhla Mkhize

Progress and Challenges for Language Policy Implementation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal approved its bilingual language policy in 2006 based on the framework of the National Language Policy for Higher Education of 2002. The guiding principles of this policy suggest that the university develops the use of isiZulu as a language of instruction and communication, in line with recommendations of the Ministerial Committee report, which investigated the development of indigenous African languages as media of instruction in higher education. The implementation of the bilingual policy began in 2008, under the responsibility of the universitys language board and faculties. Whilst debates on the policy itself are endless, there are foreseen challenges in its implementation. This is a case of ‘acquisition planning’ as in effect acquisition of isiZulu as a second language will be expected from all the university staff and students. The purpose of this article is to discuss some of these challenges and to identify steps towards language policy implementation.

On medium of instruction and African scholarship: the case of Isizulu at the University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa

After the demise of apartheid in South Africa in 1994, 11 languages (English, Afrikaans and 9 indigenous African languages) were given official status. In the higher education landscape, English remains the dominant language of scholarship. At the University of KwaZulu-Natal, English is the main medium of instruction but the institutions language policy provides for the use of isiZulu (one of the indigenous African languages) as an additional medium of instruction. The paper discusses how three of the four colleges of the University are employing isiZulu in this role. This use of isiZulu is analysed through the following four theoretical perspectives: African scholarship, Africanization of higher education, the African Renaissance, and transformation. Whilst there are obviously some challenges in using isiZulu as a medium of instruction, it is very clear that the project deflates the myth that indigenous African languages can only serve in lower levels of education (such as primary schools) and not higher education. The paper is of relevance not only to South African universities, but also to other African (and even non-African) universities that plan to use indigenous languages as media of instruction.

Indian and Isizulu-Speaking South African Parents' Estimates of Their Own and Their Children's Intelligence:

South African parents of both African and Indian origin estimated their own intelligence (on seven factors) and that of their first three children. Parents of Indian origin gave higher self-estimates than isiZulu-speaking parents, and fathers gave higher self-estimates than mothers. The results indicated that parents of Indian origin showed a greater gender difference discrepancy than isiZulu-speaking parents on spatial, musical and bodily kinaesthetic intelligence. Estimates of the intelligence of all the first-, second- and third-born children showed a similar pattern. While there were few sex differences in the estimations, parents of Indian origin tended to give higher estimates than isiZulu-speaking parents. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the educational and political history of South Africa.

Ethics in occupational health: deliberations of an international workgroup addressing challenges in an African context

BackgroundInternational codes of ethics play an important role in guiding professional practice in developing countries. In the occupational health setting, codes developed by international agencies have substantial import on protecting working populations from harm. This is particularly so under globalisation which has transformed processes of production in fundamental ways across the globe. As part of the process of revising the Ethical Code of the International Commission on Occupational Health, an Africa Working Group addressed key challenges for the relevance and cogency of an ethical code in occupational health for an African context through an iterative consultative process.DiscussionFirstly, even in the absence of strong legal systems of enforcement, and notwithstanding the value of legal institutionalisation of ethical codes, guidelines alone may offer advantageous routes to enhancing ethical practice in occupational health. Secondly, globalisation has particularly impacted on health and safety at workplaces in Africa, challenging occupational health professionals to be sensitive to, and actively redress imbalance of power. Thirdly, the different ways in which vulnerability is exemplified in the workplace in Africa often places the occupational health professional in invidious positions of Dual Loyalty. Fourth, the particular cultural emphasis in traditional African societies on collective responsibilities within the community impacts directly on how consent should be sought in occupational health practice, and how stigma should be dealt with, balancing individual autonomy with ideas of personhood that are more collective as in the African philosophy of ubuntu. To address stigma, practitioners need to be additionally sensitive to how power imbalances at the workplace intersect with traditional cultural norms related to solidarity. Lastly, particularly in the African context, the inseparability of workplace and community means that efforts to address workplace hazards demand that actions for occupational health extend beyond just the workplace.SummaryA stronger articulation of occupational health practice with advocacy for prevention should be an ethical norm. Ethical codes should ideally harmonize and balance individual and community needs so as to provide stronger moral authority guidelines. There is a need to consider an African Charter on Bioethics as complementary and strengthening of existing codes for the region.

Assessing Psychological Distress in Zulu-Speakers: Preliminary Findings from an Adaptation of the SCL-90-R

The SCL-90-R, a 90-item multidimensional self-report symptom inventory, was translated into Zulu. A multistage translation procedure, involving back-translation, decentering, and the committee approach was employed. The translated instrument was pretested on a group of Zulu farm workers (N = 12) and revisions made in order to improve its comprehensibility and acceptability to Zulu respondents. The concurrent validity of the Zulu SCL-90-R was investigated with samples of male psychiatric inpatients (N = 23) and nonpatients (N = 26). The Global Severity Index of the SCL-90-R demonstrated moderate diagnostic efficiency, with a sensitivity of .70 and a specificity of .77. These results suggest that the Zulu SCL-90-R may be a potentially useful psychometric instrument for the evaluation of psychological distress and screening for mental illness in Zulu-speakers.

South African Zulus' Beliefs about Their Own and Their Children's Intelligence

Two-hundred-and-fourteen Zulus rated their own and their childrens overall and multiple intelligences. Parents gave similar ratings: highest for verbal, intra- and inter-personal intelligence and lowest for musical and bodily-kinaesthetic intelligence. Female first-born children received higher ratings than male first-born children. The strongest predictor of the childrens overall estimated IQ was the parents overall estimated IQ and the age of the child. Results are compared to other similar studies in the area.

Ethical issues evolving from patients’ perspectives on compulsory screening for syphilis and voluntary screening for cervical cancer in Kenya

BackgroundPublic health aims to provide universal safety and progressive opportunities to populations to realise their highest level of health through prevention of disease, its progression or transmission. Screening asymptomatic individuals to detect early unapparent conditions is an important public health intervention strategy. It may be designed to be compulsory or voluntary depending on the epidemiological characteristics of the disease. Integrated screening, including for both syphilis and cancer of the cervix, is a core component of the national reproductive health program in Kenya. Screening for syphilis is compulsory while it is voluntary for cervical cancer. Participants’ perspectives of either form of screening approach provide the necessary contextual information that clarifies mundane community concerns.MethodsFocus group discussions with female clients screened for syphilis and cancer of the cervix were conducted to elicit their perspectives of compulsory and voluntary screening. The discussions were audiotaped, transcribed and thematic content analysis performed manually to explore emerging ethics issues.ResultsThe results indicate that real ethical challenges exist in either of the approaches. Also, participants were more concerned about the benefits of the procedure and whether their dignity is respected than the compulsoriness of screening per se. The implication is for the policy makers to clarify in the guidelines how to manage ethical challenges, while at the operational level, providers need to be judicious to minimize potential harms participants and families when screening for disease in women.ConclusionsThe context for mounting screening as a public health intervention and attendant ethical issues may be more complex than hitherto perceived. Interpreting emerging ethics issues in screening requires more nuanced considerations of individuals’ contextual experiences since these may be contradictory to the policy position. In considering mounting screening for Syphilis and cervical cancer as a public heal intervention, the community interests and perspectives should be inculcated into the program. Population lack of information on procedures may influence adversely the demand for screening services by the individuals at risk or the community as a collective agent.

Qualitative Career Assessment in African Contexts

This chapter discusses qualitative approaches to career assessment and their application in an African context. Qualitative career assessments focus on the stories that people tell. In so doing, they bring to the actors’ attention that there are multiple stories that can be told about careers. The possibility to author different stories means that change is possible.

Book Review: Human Destructiveness: The Roots of Genocide and Human Cruelty

The issue of child sexual abuse is often contaminated by emotional concern for the victims of such abuse. Ann Levett has already established herself internationally as one of the few authors who lets logic and empirical evidence prevail when dealing with this highly emotive social problem. She contributes a chapter in which she theoretically examines the issues of power and cultural imperialism in the study of child sexual abuse. The fabric of her argument is thought provoking and could be considered to be essential reading for those who work within any of the numerous fields in which abuse of power is a significant dynamic. The problem of street children is discussed in a chapter by Jill Swart-Kruger and David Donald. The team of Brian Robertson and Shirley Berger contribute a chapter on child psychopathology in South Africa. The development of racism and intergroup orientations is presented by Don Foster and this chapter is of his usual challenging standard. In the final chapter of the book, the two editors present their perspective on the way forward and indicate the need for a focus on intervention within the context of adversity. I look forward to reading the obvious sequel to the present book which should focus on intervention, social reconstruction and evaluation of intervention strategies.