Education planning for the past 25 years was like riding a dead horse.

My FREE SA

Jayram Daya

My Front for Radical Educational Empowerment of South Africans

 The statistical highlight of the poor state of educational planning in South Africa reminds me of the Ugandan Economist and Author: Elly Twineyo-Kamigusha who gave a brilliant analogy with a horse

Ugandan Economist and Author: Elly Twineyo-Kamigusha couldn’t have said it better!

When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount, bury the horse and get a living horse. However, in Africa, more advanced strategies are often employed, such as;

1. Buying a stronger whip

2. Appointing a committee to study the horse

3. Changing riders

4. Arranging to visit other countries to see how other cultures ride dead horses.

5. Lowering the standards so that the dead horse can be included.

6. Re-classifying the dead horse as "living impaired".

7. Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse.

8. Harnessing several dead horses together to increase speed.

9. Providing additional funding to increase the dead horse's performance.

10. Rewriting the expected performance requirement for all horses.

11. Promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position

15 major changes planned for schools and universities in South Africa – including new subjects, Staff Writer 9 February 2020.

This is a brilliant article written by a Staff Writer from BUSINESSTECH. It is my opinion that this future planning may be in the right direction but still has a few dead horses that are carried forward. Can we bury these horses and get living horses to go on with Educational planning. This will give us our required objectives. I am in support of these proposals.

Note; 33 Since these are just proposals I would like to suggest that after the many postings on My FREE SA, since 2018 this posting is a follow up of my input and suggestions on the ongoing changes the government is proposing on educational matters. Please join my front and make South Africa the capital of change.

1. I think 10 years is a long time to see the results hence once again I would like to see 5 years fixed planning going into 3 stages leading us to 15years for a gradual mindset change considering the change in infrastructure that is required urgently and the financial planning with anti-corruption formulas
2. Note; 34 For the unemployed youth let us identify the problem and it's very well-identified as “Against this background, it is clear that the major contributor to poverty, inequality, and unemployment amongst the youth in South Africa is the low level of educational attainment and skills” Please concentrate on this very important flaw in the governing system of South Africa and do something about it.
3. Note; 35 Let us study the following statement "A million young people exit the schooling system annually, of whom 65% leave without achieving a Grade 12 certificate; Why?
4. Note; 36 "The Department of Basic Education, in partnership with private providers, should support learners who need a ‘second chance’ to pass matric. The Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology should also provide young people who have left school with the opportunity to complete their education to enable them to compete in the open labor market;" ( I do not agree- some learners are not inclined to the formal education system and by forcing them, they become aimless. There must be a process in school to include vocational guidance by showing them a direction of their skills and interest )
5. Note; 37 "All schools should be encouraged to have an anti-racism policy that supports small freedoms such as allowing African children to wear natural Afros to schools;" ( Again this is a dead horse, let’s forget this type of street politics)
6. Note; 38 Brilliant! Simple but constructive planning is required to administrate these proposals. It’s my thought that with a short research model, institutions must be put up in close proximity of the researchers with continuous study eradication the problem areas and then keep on increasing with every year to be perfected in five years. Give it to recognized institutions of the world by avoiding tenders and government families with fake qualifications. India and Japan have an experience of skill base education that uses their practical knowledge. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is a wonderful example of a system that worked and many more to mention.

6.     

Note; The ruling party should take the blame and do something about it without passing the buck, it is now 25 years that they had the decision making machinery in their favor. Please do not blame the apartheid system and Zuma administration etc. ANC must now take full responsibility and go deep in the matter and find a practical solution for South Africa by setting up a Front for Radical Educational Empowerment of South Africans. Let us all join the front and empower South Africans. Hit the horse that runs

 15 major changes planned for schools and universities in South Africa – including new subjects

Staff Writer9 February 2020

https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/372052/15-major-changes-planned-for-schools-and-universities-in-south-africa-including-new-subjects/

Note; 33 Government has published its Draft National Youth policy for 2020 – 2030, outlining its plans to get more young South Africans into education and employment opportunities over the next 10 years.

The document states that youth unemployment has reached ‘crisis proportions’ in South Africa and remains one of the major challenges facing the country today.

“South Africa’s unemployment rate is high for both youth and adults; though, the unemployment rate among the youth currently stands at an alarming 56.4% and is considered to be one of the highest globally,” it said.

Note; 34“Against this background, it is clear that the major contributor to poverty, inequality, and unemployment amongst the youth in South Africa is the low level of educational attainment and skills.

“The latest national data from Stats SA (2018) shows that of the 10.3 million persons aged 15-24 years, 32.4% (approximately 3.3 million) were not in employment, education or training, with females constituting 35.3% and males 29.6%.”

Other statistics that point to a failure in the education system include:

• About 52% of 24-year-olds in the country have completed Grade 12, compared to 70% in most developing countries;
• Note; 35 A million young people exit the schooling system annually, of whom 65% leave without achieving a Grade 12 certificate;
• Half of those who exit the schooling system do so after Grade 11, either because they do not enrol in Grade 12 or they fail Grade 11.

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Plans to fix the problem

To address the issues in South Africa’s education sector, the policy document outlines a number of proposals which should be introduced by 2030.

Below BusinessTech outlined the proposals for each sector.

Schools 

• Note; 36 The Department of Basic Education, in partnership with private providers, should support learners who need a ‘second chance’ to pass matric. The Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology should also provide young people who have left school with the opportunity to complete their education to enable them to compete in the open labour market;

• Note; 37All schools should be encouraged to have an anti-racism policy that supports small freedoms such as allowing African children to wear natural Afros to schools;

• All South African learners must learn an indigenous language. Sign language should also be progressively introduced in all schools;

• Basic computer literacy should be included in the school curriculum;

• Practical subjects such as entrepreneurship, technical skills and handwork (art) need to be introduced to the curriculum help those who are not inclined to proceed to higher education;

• Schools in rural areas should be able to use local farming land for practical or experiential learning in agriculture. Local farmers can mentor learners;

• Existing incentives to attract young people to the teaching profession should continue until at least 2020. This means that teacher salaries should be competitive.

Post-school Note; 38 

• The number of TVET colleges should be expanded to increase the participation rate to 25% and the graduation rate 75% by 2030;

• Government should introduce a new community college framework designed for youth who did not complete their schooling or who never attended school and thus do not qualify to study at TVET colleges or universities. This will offer tailor-made qualifications to meet the needs of the youth;

• The government should progressively introduce free education for poor learners until undergraduate level and increase the funding options available to support students at the post-secondary level who are academically successful but unable to complete their study programmes due to financial hardships;

• All higher education institutions (colleges, universities) must introduce foundation programmes for learners in transition from the basic to higher education learning environment. These foundation courses should include soft skills development to help students cope with university demands;

• All government departments including municipalities should have internship programmes, which should be monitored in terms of numbers and quality;

• Every qualification at university should be coupled with an experiential component to ensure graduates have experience when they qualify;

• The BRICS virtual university must be established to facilitate the use of ICT for educational purposes and promote access to education, particularly for females;

• Based on feasibility studies, agricultural colleges and schools of excellence must be established in each province and agriculture faculties must be introduced and/or strengthened in universities and TVET colleges.