THE COMPLEMENTARY ROLES OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK IN THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NIGERIAN CHILD

Abstract

School Social Work is a tool that can be used to create a smoother leaning process for children,especially in primary and post primary schools. However, due to various psychological,emotional and environmental challenges, children exhibit behavioural maladjustments thatimpede their educational development and create a ‘clog’ to the smooth running of the schoolsystem. This paper sets out to reiterate the complementary roles of school social work in theeducational development of the Nigerian child. It utilized secondary data from relevant studies,statistical data, reports and case studies from field practitioners to assess and situate the efficacyof the roles of school social workers in the school setting. The paper utilized the School-Community-Pupil Relations Model to best analyze the philosophy behind the practice of schoolsocial work. Conclusions were drawn based on the evidences of global best practices in thepractice of social work within the school setting. The paper indicated that school social workserves the needs of the children whose potentialities to learn are thwarted by challengingconditions by striving to render these conditions suitable for the children’s academic wellbeing.The paper showed that school social workers are knowledgeable about human developmentand the emergent personality types, as well as human needs arising from the interplay amongdifferent individual personality make-ups and environmental conditions. It emphasizes theprofessional skills in providing services to meet these needs without undermining the dignityof those served. It therefore went further to advocate for policies promoting its adoption withinthe Nigerian schools.