Higher education access in South Africa for students with criminal records

Mugume, Taabo

doi:10.4314/ldd.v21i1.2

Cited by 4 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…This finding suggests that lack of knowledge as to where to find psychological support is contributory to the challenges experienced by first-year students. Steyn, Harris and Hartell (2014) as well as Mugume (2017) aver that first-year students do not know where to get access to the necessary supports, one of which is psychological support. A review of the 2017 first-year students' guide of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Faculty of Humanities, 2017a) suggests that first-year students do not know their way around campus and are usually unable to access the necessary supports as and when due.…”

Section: Figure 4: "I Had a Place To Stay During Orientation"mentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of First‑year Learning Experiences in a Rural University in South Africa

Uleanya

Rugbeer

2020

JSAA

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This study investigated the first-year experiences (FYE) of students in a South African university. Survey research design was used in the study. The quantitative method was used for data collection and 1 479 first-year students were randomly selected. The findings reveal that first-year students in the selected South African rural-based university experience certain specific challenges amongst which are poor orientation to the new context, poor knowledge of the Higher Education system, and poor educational background of parents. The study recommends that a special office under the direct line management of the dean of students be established to observe and closely monitor the progress of first-year students. This office would accommodate orientation of first years, and liaise and collaborate with appropriate offices within the institution to ensure that first-year students are properly guided and assisted in integrating without stress into the university system.

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Section: Figure 4: "I Had a Place To Stay During Orientation"mentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of First‑year Learning Experiences in a Rural University in South Africa

Uleanya

Rugbeer

2020

JSAA

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“…Inevitably, students are often victims of criminal acts inside the campus and their place of their residence. Campus safety should be the primary priority of the security component in the IHL (Mugume, 2017). Students are always victimised and sometimes brutally killed on university campuses by other students or members of the society who unlawfully gain access to these premises (Makhaye, 2017).…”

Section: Background Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Students with a criminal history background will have to face collateral consequences; barriers that are used at universities to prevent them from being admitted (Custer, 2018). Offenders who are convicted of having committed a serious crime should declare it to the university after admission to bolster the mechanism of campus safety (Mugume, 2017). University societies and visitors should also be screened thoroughly to gain access in the campus.…”

Section: Background Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As such, they probably resort to correct their unethical conduct by becoming model students while serving their sentences. In fact, there should be an access route to higher education for offenders who are done with serving their correctional sentences without considering their criminal history (Mugume, 2017). Of course, many scholars also agreed that acquiring education in correctional facilities positively contributes to behavioural transformation and reduce recidivism when they are reintegrated back to the society (Vandala, 2017).…”

Section: Background Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Students with criminal record vs. safety rights challenges for prospective students in the institutions of higher learning in South Africa

Sithubi,

Manyage,

Soundy

2024

IJEASA

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Constitutionally, every individual citizen in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) has the right to education regardless of social and/or legal circumstances. The constitution also guarantees everyone the right to freedom and security of a person. This article aims to advocate the rights of students to pursue their studies safely that might be threatened by safety challenges in the institutions of higher learning (IHL) around the country. A phenomenological qualitative research design and chain referral sampling method was used for this study to determine the practical experience of safety challenges in IHL.The study revealed that it remains the responsibility of the IHL to always manage and operate campus patrols and determines that there are safety measures readily and at hand when the need arises and to ensure that conducive teaching and learning takes place without fear of victimisation amongst its component societies. It has been recommended in this study that the management of IHL should improve and strengthen their security systems with adequate human resources.

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“…In the Southwestern African region, little to no scholarly literature has been produced to date on the topic of collateral consequences of criminal records and the impact of background checks on the employment of formerly incarcerated individuals. The few studies on collateral consequences and criminal record-keeping that are present are conducted in countries in the South-eastern coast of Africa, such as Zambia, South Africa and Mauritius (Dewah and Mutula, 2016; Mugume, 2017; Mujuzi, 2014, 2015; Mujuzi and Tsweledi, 2014; van Zyl Smit, 2003). In Ghana, a few recent studies have reported the endemic stigmatisation by ‘law-abiding citizens’ against formerly incarcerated individuals and the challenges in their securing legal employment after release (Baffour, 2021; Baffour et al, 2021; Dako-Gyeke and Baffour, 2016; Schneider and Weber, 2020; Wiafe, 2021).…”

Section: Criminal Record-keeping In Ghana: the Limitations Of The Bur...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Criminal records and post-prison employment in Ghana: Formal and informal means of performing criminal background checks

Baffour

Francis

Chong

et al. 2023

Criminology & Criminal Justice

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This article contributes to the discussion on criminal record-keeping and post-prison employment from the perspective of a developing country. We present and discuss the results of a qualitative research based on interviews with 13 employers in Ghana about the use of criminal background checks in the hiring process. Data suggest a perceived lack of trust towards formerly incarcerated individuals primarily rooted in traditional cultural and moral values. Participants perceived that being associated with people with a criminal record is largely disapproved at the societal level. As a result, formerly incarcerated individuals are discriminated against in the employment setting. We also found that community dynamics and relations manage to overcome the lack of accuracy and reliability of state-provided criminal history information. Due to the absence of reliable access to criminal records through official channels, employers resort to informal means relying on community ties to get access to information about the past and character of job applicants. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for research, policy and practice.

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Higher education access in South Africa for students with criminal records

Cited by 4 publications

References 4 publications

Investigation of First‑year Learning Experiences in a Rural University in South Africa

Investigation of First‑year Learning Experiences in a Rural University in South Africa

Students with criminal record vs. safety rights challenges for prospective students in the institutions of higher learning in South Africa

Criminal records and post-prison employment in Ghana: Formal and informal means of performing criminal background checks

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