CVNet - optometric education in South Africa

Color and Vision Network (cvnet@lawton.ewind.com)
Tue, 18 May 1999 09:21:18 -0700

From: "William Frith Harris" <wfh@na.rau.ac.za>
Organization: Rand Afrikaans University
To: Color and Vision Network <cvnet@lawton.ewind.com>
Subject: Optometric Education in South Africa
CC: Alan Rubin <ar@na.rau.ac.za>

Hello Hoover,

Can I ask you please to put this message on the CVNet? Many thanks.
Bill Harris

COMPULSORY CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN OPTOMETRY IN SOUTH
AFRICA

There are moves in South Africa to introduce a system of compulsory
continuing professional training of optometrists. In order to
continue practicising in the country an optometrist would have to
acquire a particular number of points per year. He or she would be
able to do so by attending approved courses for example. While I am
a strong advocate of all forms of education I believe that the proposed
system has more disadvantages than advantages for South Africa. I
have little knowledge of the system as operated in the States. I am
sure that there has been an informed debate on the matter in the
States and am very keen to know about the arguments on both sides of
the issue. Knowledge of that sort would be very helpful for us in
approaching the issue in South Africa. I would welcome any opinions.
There must also be published documents on the issue.

Many thanks in advance for any information.
Bill Harris


Professor W F Harris PhD(Minnesota) FAAO
Head: Optometric Science Research Group, Dept Optom,
R A U, P O Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006 South Africa
Fax +27-11-489-2091 E-mail wfh@na.rau.ac.za