Government for the people: access to Education

According to the annual 2010 General Household Survey carried out by Stats SA, among people who are 20 years and older, the percentage of those with a matric certificate as their highest level of education rose from 21.5% in 2002 to 26.2% in 2010. In addition, people of this age group with a tertiary qualification also increased from 9.2% to 11.2% over the same period. Viewed differently, this figure indicates that there are more than 80% of those 20 years and older with no tertiary qualifications. What is encouraging is that the number of people aged 5 years and older who attend school without paying fees has gone up from 0.7% in 2002 to 54.6% in 2010. This suggests that there has been a greater opportunity for access to education for many of the poor during this period. South Africa’s spend on public education is just over 5% of GDP, which is a substantial investment and puts SA among the countries with the highest spend on public education. However, a large portion of this expenditure is on personnel while little is being invested in capital and long-term public education initiatives. By all measures, South Africa is currently tracking way behind its own Millennium Development Goals targets as this relates to education.

Problem

For SA to increase the number of people with a tertiary qualification, there must be an increase in the number people who pass their matric. According to Stats SA, there are three main reasons, among many, which contribute towards the low matriculation rate. The first being lack of text books, which in itself limits proper learning. Secondly, fees are said to be too high, indeed in some households, children have had to take on the role bread-winner, which means education either takes a back seat or in extreme circumstances, it is abandoned completely. Lastly and perhaps very alarmingly, is teacher absenteeism due mainly to strikes and this suggests that teachers in public schools feel they are not paid enough.

The Ideas: Solutions

a) Implement an incentive scheme to encourage both higher enrolment and excellent results. For example, every child in a public school who completes matric, having taken certain subjects, to receive a once-off grant. Every child in a public school who passes matric with a distinction to receive a once-off grant. Offer free tertiary education for students who enrol for specific engineering and natural science degrees. Or a combination of the two i.e. incentives and free education. To be funded by proceeds from some of the sin taxes.

b) Use technology in the classroom to compliment and supplement the teacher and the text books. The advantage of technology is that it allows for the creation of a virtual reality (especially when it comes to gaming). Which means for certain subjects, learners could engage in simulated scenario’s to allow for better learning. Technology could further add more context to the process of learning through the use of video, sound and pictures.

c) Drive towards a knowledge economy with a focus on subjects that will allow learners to excel in engineering as well as the natural sciences when they reach university.

Every year on 8 September, the world celebrates "World Literacy Day" 

Our Politicians must show willingness to create effective government!!