We need a national debate on education. At the moment we are driving down a unknown road without a map, we don't know where we are going exactly, what point we're at, how far we have to go or where our destination is. What kind of education system do we want? What is the purpose of our education system?
We talk equality but we implement differentiation, so in reality we have a two-tiered school system. What do business and industry want out of education? What do parents want? We are also confusing schooling with education and that is having a negative impact on basic education. There should be rigorous systems of accountability. We need to determine clearly defined standards of behaviour and performance and then place measures of accountability, and make sure that teachers and principals live up to them. Such monitoring and evaluation cannot be conducted by the teachers themselves, but must be undertaken by external, independent bodies and the community that uses the school. If our education system is to be competitive and productive, then we have to have standards that must be maintained.
This means improving district structures as well. One of our problems is that policy is set at national level and supposedly implemented at provincial level, but with provinces excluded from policy making, there is little interest in delivery. This in turn defeats and degrades the concept of policy. A more genuinely de-centralised system would promote much greater community involvement and school level accountability.
A further problem lies not only in the massive backlog of teachers, but also the low erosion rate of teachers and principals. When these professionals stay in one place for long periods, it becomes extremely difficult to implement any kind of change. This also leads to the culture shock awaiting new teachers trained with modern methods who are confronted with stubborn resistance to change by established teachers who often use out-dated methods and poor work practices, they don't know how to overcome this so they frequently either resign or give up and adopt. A starting point would need to be a detailed and realistic national plan on education. This will allow us to start getting the basic blocks in place.
A complex situation where we all need to put the children first and forget about our own set ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think is best for the children?
ReplyDeleteThat is a whole thesis on its own but it involves creating opportunities for children,them mastering the basics, parents being involved the whole way, opportunity again, guidance and support from enthusiastic teachers, politicians that actualy care about education etc etc etc - that is why it is a complex question.
ReplyDeleteYou have a point thats why a national debate is needed so as to address these issues, with the intention of then finding solutions and a way forward so that we can have an education system that is successful and puts the childrens needs first.
ReplyDeleteEducation is cumulative. Expecting to have one great big debate about education that produces numerous effective solutions to old problems is short-sighted. There is no restart button. We have to work with what we have. Education will always be a broken system (across the world) and that's ok.
ReplyDeleteSocial networking is the way forward in every business aspect these days, through cellphones, i-pads and (going away) laptops, so am glad READ is taking a lead in introducing this medium out to the education world. It's a great start and I sincerely hope this network grows in leaps and bounds. We will keep on airing our views on everything from technical to content....Thanx
ReplyDelete@Cath,we cannot just accept that the system is broken and will always be that way, it is our responsibility to make a change, we owe that to the children who are the ones that are suffering because of our failure in correcting the educational system.
ReplyDelete@Desmond, we have to keep up with the times and do our best to reach the masses especially because of the state of our educational system.
Principals and HODs should ensure that the old teachers take this opportunity and learn from the new teachers. ( I believe that one is never too old to learn. I for one have learned from Thando to be techno wise). The same applies to new teachers they stand to gain a lot from the old experienced teachers. It's really a matter of synergy.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point, but how would you suggest this is done as in many cases the older teachers are set in their ways and don't want to learn and implement new ideas and methods?
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