FET Colleges is it really a solution?

Paying thousands to obtain a diploma or a certificate in your chosen field of study after matric is a huge expense and proving to be an even bigger risk, but what is the alternative for school leavers today?

To operate as a private FET institution, a college must first be registered as a company in line with the Companies Act of 1973, and then obtain registration with the Department of Education or Umalusi (the general and further education training quality assurance body).

For students who do not have university exemption or cannot afford university fees, a FET college is the next best option, But is this working in their favour long term?
Accredited colleges are providing students with measurable qualifications that can be used in industry. So the question is why are they not being hired but in the majority of cases their qualification is being looked down on and internships and jobs are being given to university students only.

This attitude of employers is preventing students from finding gainful employment resulting in them being forced into low-level jobs with very little if any prospect of career advancement.

What's your take?

Teacher Unions, effective or not?

Teacher unions have influenced education policy and social change throughout history. On the other hand, the development and history of teacher unions are closely related to their political relationship with government.

In this day in age it is quite clear that because of their role in policy implementation, teacher unions are not only able to sabotage or promote policies but also to influence society's perception about government performance.

With all this in play are unions really effective? Can they continue to only have teacher's best interest at heart and nobody else? How can they allow srikes to continue for months on end knowing full well the impact it will have on the learners? There is a role for unions to play in a democratic society but it is a questionable role when the outcome of their actions is always to the detriment of the most vulnerable members in society- our children.

The question is: do we really need that?

Ideas from: mg.co.za/article/2011-03-04-manuel-criticses-teacher-unions

Teaching in South Africa, where are we going

One could argue that South Africa is one of the more affluent countries in Africa but does this mean anything if we are failing to produce good teachers who in turn are failing to produce well educated learners who will be our future leaders?

Rural schools are faced with a myriad of problems of which under-qualified teachers are but one. How can we then expect good results from the vast majority of our learners when in actual fact poor teaching is at the root of our under performing education system. Could we be heading towards a future with no institutionalized teaching where parents will be left to educate their children at home and teachers become a distant memory...

The good teachers are mostly to be found in the ex model C schools where their skills, dedication and hard work are recognized and well compensated for. Now what does this mean for all previously disadvantaged schools? Will they be forever stuck with under qualified teachers who have lost their drive for teaching because of financial and behavioral issues? Will our learners rich and poor never receive the same level of instruction? Will the teaching profession continue to be overlooked leaving us with an even bigger shortage of skilled and passionate teachers?

What's your take?

Ideas from: www.ten-edu.co.za