The perceived effects of field-based learning in building responsive partnerships for community development

Abstract

This paper argues for the use of field-based learning activities in the training of community-based extension workers (CBEWs). CBEWs are in a challenging position. They are expected to provide services to local communities in an integrated/coordinated manner. Thus, they require partnership skills to work as an effective group. Hermeneutic-phenomenological interviewing revealed that training systems in their current forms remain unable to address the partnership skill-needs of CBEWs. This paper argues for the re-orientation of the current training systems, to make field-based learning an integral element of the training systems.