Short Learning Programmes

Programme in Fundamentals Aspects of Children's Rights (77111)

Duration: The short learning programme is 12 months in duration. 3 compulsory modules are offered in the first semester (or registration intake) and 2 compulsory modules in the second semester (or registration intake).

Language medium: English

Tuition method: Learning is exclusively online supported by workshops where appropriate

Target group:

Social auxiliary workers, child and youth care workers, youth development workers, educators and teachers, psychologists, social workers, social service professionals, criminologists, police officers, nurses, paralegals, correctional offices, members of the allied health professions, mental health practitioners, academics, home affairs officials, international organization for migration, NGO personnel, probation officers, students and graduate professionals.

Admission requirements:

In order to be admitted to the short learning programme a potential student must hold:
A National Senior Certificate or its equivalent.
Qualify according to the process of Recognition of Prior Learning in accordance with Unisa policy guidelines.
Where a student wishes to gain entry via the RPL process he/she must contact the administrator indicated below for information on the RPL process and the requirements in this regard.

Registration periods:

Semester 1: Application and registration close on the 27th of February
Semester 2: Application and registration open on the 5th of June and closes on the 14th of July

Course leader details:

Adv H de Ru
Mercantile Law
Tel: 0124298371
Email: deruh@unisa.ac.za

Programme administrator:

Admin Officer
Unisa Centre for Lifelong Learning
360 Lillian Ngoyi Street, Pretoria Central
Solomon Mahlangu Building 2nd floor
Tel: 012 352 4288
Email address: UCL@unisa.ac.za
Application Link: www.unisa.ac.za/applyslp

Purpose statement:

In relation to the background sketched above this SLP seeks to:
Inculcate a culture of rights-based practice amongst professional and non-professional persons, bodies and entities that have a direct or indirect working relationship with children.
Establish a programme which caters for MIT knowledge generation and application in the field of children rights, which draws from various disciplines to ground its theory. This seeks to satisfy the South African approach to national and millennium development goals.
To upskill and provide access to education for those who otherwise would not be able to access tertiary education

Modules:

PRFAC12 - Children's Rights in the South African and International Context

Syllabus/Content: The protection of children's rights in the Constitution, 1996. The socio-economic rights of children. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

PRFAC13 - Children and Status Issues

Syllabus/Content: The concept of a child's status in private law. Factors influencing a child's status. Legal capacity. Capacity to act. Capacity to litigate. Children and consumer agreements. Selected aspects relating to children and their status.

PRFAC15 - Aspects of Criminal Law Relating to Children

Syllabus/Content: Sexual offences against children. Children as victims and witnesses. The Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 -Introduction. The Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 - The pre-trial phase. The Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 - The trial phase

PRFAC18 - Selected Aspects of the Children's Act 38 of 2005

Syllabus/Content: General principles: Children's Act 38 of 2005. Parental responsibilities and rights. Termination or suspension of parental responsibilities and rights. Co-exercise of parental responsibilities and rights. Parenting plans. Child protection. Children in need of care and protection. Removal of children to temporary safe care with and without court orders. Dealing with children in need of care and protection.

PRFAC21 - Children's Rights and Education Law

Syllabus/Content: Children and education law. The right to a basic education (section 29 of the Constitution, 1996 and all related matters). The impact of the Constitution on learners' rights. The South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 and school discipline.