Social work education and training in southern and east Africa: yesterday, today and tomorrow

Abstract

In Africa, social work is considered a young profession, as it was imported from the West at the beginning of the last century. Critics have expressed concern that African social work education, because of its Western roots, lacked appropriateness and relevance. Many institutions in southern and east Africa have heeded the call to strive for relevance. Studies, however, reveal that enormous challenges have been encountered in attempts to realise relevance, while at the same time ensuring adherence to IASSW Global Standards. The impediments have included problems in generating indigenous teaching materials, lack of resources, lack of appropriate field placements, etc. Using empirical data, this paper commences by chronicling the historical development of social work education and training in Southern and East Africa, before surveying its current state, and concluding with comments on prospects for the future.