Hazel Buyisiwa Petula Matiwane understands this well, and it was this understanding that earned her a PhD at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremonies of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark.
Hazel Matiwane receives her degree. With her is Prof Manie Spamer.
In her thesis entitled “Guidelines from learning support needs of incarcerated open distance learning students in a changing education landscape”, Hazel developed guidelines to assist with the higher education of incarcerated students.
The contributions from her research provide insight in the support incarcerated students need to study via distance learning. Hazel identified guidelines that could be used when developing policies for the Department of Correctional Services. Current policies can now be formulated to identify various strategies for the effective delivery of e-learning in a changing distance education landscape.
Hazel’s framework outlines incentives to enhance the institutional and technological infrastructure at correctional facilities, to support the learning of incarcerated students by providing access to courses and other important resources.
These findings make a significant contribution to the planning and management of the incarcerated student’s learning, access to education and their rehabilitation.
More about Hazel
Hazel Buyisiwa Petula Matiwane was born in Beaufort West. She matriculated from Imizamo Yethu High School in 1989. After school, she obtained a Senior Primary Teacher’s Diploma (1993), a BTech in education law (1998), a BEdHons degree (2006) and a master’s degree (2011).
The study was promoted by Prof AS Blignaut. Prof M Nell fulfilled the role of assistant promoter.
