It is a matter of history and track record that successful nations have turned out to be prolific innovators and education has been the foundation of that continuing innovation for them. Innovative countries tend to have high levels of literacy with many of its citizens holding at least an under-graduate tertiary qualification. This being the case, the question that has to be asked is: is South Africa preparing itself to be a nation of innovators?
In my view, a good education system has at its core the following key elements (in no order of importance) which must work in concert to ensure good to excellent outcomes:
a) a well thought-out curriculum
b) a committed government
c) involved parents/guardians
d) committed and inspiring teachers
e) engaged leaners
Each one of these five elements is as important as the other and a weakness in one or more could, at best, weaken the education system and at worst, cause a total collapse of the entire education system. Learners who experience schooling where all the five elements work in concert must surely have a better chance of growing up to be successful adults.
Does South Africa's education system therefore have all the above five elements working in harmony and fulfilling their end of the bargain? The answer I suspect depends on the province, the city, the town and type of school i.e. private or public, one choses to scrutinize. Based on these variables, it is difficult to say whether or not South Africa's education system is prepared to produce leading innovators of tomorrow. What is clear, is that in order for the education system to have a chance of delivering excellent outcomes, the role players in the above mix must be satisfied that they are each fulfilling their end of the bargain. At the point at which each of the role players could declare that they are each fulfilling their end of the bargain, then from that point onwards, South Africa would be on a path to success and on a path to being a nation capable of large scale innovation.
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