Abstract
M.A.
All children especially adolescents need to feel socially and emotionally supported in every part of their lives for them to have psychosocial well being. This well being includes many different aspects such as physical, material, psychological, and social aspects. Researchers agree that adolescent stage has many challenges of growing up; they need supportive ways of coping and developing. As they grow, high school learners need friendships with same age peers and to be members of formal cultural institutions including educational, play, social and/ or religious groups. The school as an environment where children spend most part of their time needs to have formal and informal support systems that may serve as a tool in ensuring that learner’ copes with the emotional challenges experienced in this stage for optimal social and learning experience.
The purpose of this study was to answer research questions on what contributes to the perceptions of adequate social support in a school environment. Which social support systems contribute most to the perceptions of adequate social support? What role does the teacher play in providing social support at school? Would the services of school social worker contribute in anyway to how learners perceive school environment?
The concept of social support was described as a key concept of measurement by means of literature study. A questionnaire was designed and utilized to collect data on perceptions regarding social support in the school environment. Data was then analysed to determine whether formal support systems would promote the development of social networks in the community.
It became clear from the research findings that high school learners have emotional challenges that needs the attention of a professional person which are non existent in Vosloorus high schools. It was also discovered that learners are unable share their problems in school as the environment is not conducive for them to do so. It also became evident that learners tend to depend on social networks for support in the absence of busy parents. Although the learners felt physically supported, they are
lacking emotional and mental wellbeing. The main recommendation of the study is that social support for learners should be supported and mainstreamed in the curriculum to reach majority of learners with emotional, physical, psychological and social needs.