FIELDWORK SUPERVISION: MEETING REQUIREMENTS OF SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION THROUGH CRITICAL THINKING

Abstract

This paper highlights the process of supervision that aims to developing critical thinking amongst social work students by consciously creating spaces for them, so as to enable them to reflect upon their own position and the social context within which the individuals, groups and societies exist. It is hoped that the paper will generate debate as well as a critical and constructive evaluation of the role of supervision in the context of third world countries, which face the problem of structural inequality in their societies. The paper is also expected to provide insights for fieldwork supervisors who may wish to challenge their students to question the existing status quo in the society. The paper is based entirely on the author's experiences as a field work supervisor, her observations and discussions with students during individual conferences, group meetings, community field visits and through fieldwork reports of the students.