A new curriculum for the social worker education will come into effect from the summer.
Both the theoretical course and the internship period will be reduced, so that it will only take one year – compared to the previous two years – to complete the education.
Although the theoretical course is shortened from 49 to 29 weeks and the internship period from 48 to 17 weeks, the Social Pedagogical Seminar (SPS), Perorsaanermik Ilinniarfik, states the following in a press release:
No weakening
- The change is taking place without weakening the professional objectives or competence goals of the education.
The reason for the change is not least that it has been a great challenge for the students to complete the education with two internships.
- Our assessment is that the current length of the social worker education is not appropriate and contributes to a high dropout rate. Today, less than half of the students complete the education. The six-month internship in particular has proven to be a challenge – both professionally, personally and in relation to the geographical and practical framework in Greenland. Our experience shows that internships in their current form are associated with an increased risk of dropout. The background for reducing the internships from two to one is precisely these experiences, writes SPS and adds, among other things:
- A duration of 1 school year ensures an appropriate progression level (improved development, ed.) for students who want to further train as assistants, and thus contributes to a stronger education chain and recruitment across our programs.
Merit transfer is strengthened
With the complete change to the study, the credit transfer from the decentralized daycare assistant program (DMU) is improved, it is stated, where "the new structure creates a more coherent and motivating progression".
- Students from Nuuk are today sent to a third and final theory stay of 4 months in Ilulissat. This will be eliminated in the new scheme. With the new curriculum, our students will be able to complete their entire education in Nuuk and thus avoid having to travel to Ilulissat and leave their families and familiar surroundings, it is stated.
