Advising South African Students/Background/Current Crisis. NAFSA Field Service Working Paper #2.

Counselors working with students from South Africa need to be aware that the system of apartheid has created separate and unequal societies resulting in major differences in student educational, cultural, political and other backgrounds. In addition, counselors need to be aware of individual differences as well as differences in how people cope with an oppressive system and adjust to a different culture. Because these differences may underlie problems in the counseling situation, they should be considered by program sponsors, foreign student advisors, academic advisors and college counsellors in dealing with student problems related to South Africa, and also in helping South African students realize their goals. Background factors from both black and white South African student perspectives which should be considered are defined and discussed. Crisis situations which affect South African students on college campuses are also identified. It is recommended that the information be used as a frame of reference in academic advisement, counseling and program management. (LPT)