South African police bosses
too stupid to pass flagship course, label it useless
PREGA GOVENDER | 27 February, 2015 14:12
SAPS vehicle. File photo.
Image by: Reuben Goldberg
Image by: Reuben Goldberg
Top brass in the South
African Police Service are failing a flagship course in huge numbers because
they don't know how to do research.
Afraid of being embarrassed for failing the in-service programme,
several brigadiers and major-generals are now nominating colonels, their
juniors, to attend the workshops in their place.
Known as the executive development learning programme, it is meant,
among other things, to sharpen the critical leadership and management skills of
senior policemen.
About 150 policemen are chosen every year to do the course at the Paarl
Academy in the Western Cape. Members fly or drive there, at state expense, for
three days a month to attend the course over six weeks.
But disillusioned policemen, some of whom started the course as far back
as 2010 and have still not completed it, this week called for it to be scrapped
because, they say, it is "useless".
The modules include financial management and budgeting; programme and
project management; policy formulation and implementation; strategic human
resource management; and leadership for good governance. Participants have to
complete three segments: a theoretical component; the submission of a research
proposal; and the completion and presentation of a mini thesis to a panel,
which must endorse it. Those who complete all segments are presented with a
certificate.
