 | |
Date: 13 Apr 2011
By Francis Hweshe
Cape Town - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has condemned violence against teachers in schools.
Speaking ahead of her department's Budget Vote in Parliament, Motshekga said there were "unsettling safety levels in schools."
She was concerned about learners who attacked teachers after they had been reprimanded, girls who got raped at schools, those who faced sexual harassment and abuse, as well as learners who brought weapons to school.
The minister conceded that body searches for a huge number of learners were difficult. She called on parents to teach their children the values of peace to help stamp out in violence in schools.
There were also the ongoing challenges regarding quality of teaching and assessment and inadequate curriculum coverage.
Meanwhile, the department is planning to consolidate small schools into bigger schools, in order to make them less expensive to run. The minister said there were many two-classroom schools, some with less than a hundred learners, which were expensive to run.
She said that they had identified about 85 mud schools and 8 000 other structures in schools which needed to be sorted out.
The department has allocated a special fund of R700 million to eradicate mud schools.
"We are working with Treasury and the Departments of Public Services and Transport to improve functionality in the Eastern Cape on a sustainable basis," she said. -
Source: BuaNews |
Sixty-four of Soweto's 80 schools performed badly in last year's matric exams - ill-discipline, neglect of duties, abuse of pupils, gangsterism and drug and alcohol abuse have been some of the reasons given for the decline in education standards in the Johannesburg township.
In the 2010 State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma said the country's education targets were simple but critical, urging pupils and teachers to be in school and in class, on time, learning and teaching for seven hours a day. But since that call, instability still plagues schools in Soweto.
Gabi Khumalo takes a look at some of the challenges facing the schools situated in an area rich with a history of standing up for learner rights and demanding equal education, and what lies ahead.
Currently, Soweto schools perform at 10 to 15 percent below the provincial average and are amongst the worst performing in the province and, according to education officials, many remain dysfunctional.
Recently, the Gauteng Education Department held a summit that looked at ways of addressing and improving classroom teaching and learner performance.
The summit, attended by education stakeholders such as religious and business leaders, parents, learners, ward councillors, teachers and principals, saw delegates agree that all schools, teachers, learners, parents and the department would adhere to the non-negotiables - that teachers must teach; learners must learn; parents must provide support to their children; and the department must create a conducive environment for learning and teaching. Read more... |
By Gabi Khumalo
Johannesburg - Underperformance, low levels of parental involvement in education and illegal industrial action are just some of the challenges facing schools in Soweto said Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.
Speaking at an education summit aimed at addressing underperforming schools in that area, Mokonyane urged educators, labour unions and parents to work together in improving education. The summit was attended by educators, labour unions, faith based organisations, parents and business among others.
According to a report, Soweto has the largest number of underperforming schools compared to other township schools in Gauteng. The average 2010 matric pass rate of Soweto secondary schools was 63 percent, compared to provincial average of 79 percent.
"The truth of the matter is that education in Soweto has been compromised and is in a state of decline. Teachers seem to have lost the sense of duty that is bestowed upon them by this noble profession. The culture of poor learning, in which learners and teachers are not adhering to the seven hour learning days, cannot go unchallenged," Mokonyane said.
She said the unbecoming behaviour of learners, which is slowly becoming a norm in Soweto schools, cannot be curbed if parents do not play their role in the education of their children and urged them to commit themselves in the affairs of the various schools in the area.
Chairperson of the Soweto Black Management Forum, Solly Moripe, said the summit would form part of existing efforts to transform Soweto schools into centres of excellence.
He also urged business to provide skills development opportunities to educators, learners and School Governing Bodies (SGBs).
"The district and schools can use your skills in finance and other disciplines; hence we call you to share your expertise."
Speaking on behalf of organised labour, Gauteng South African Democratic Teacher Union (SADTU) Secretary, Tshidiso Ledimo, said: "In order to turn around our education system, our interventions should be comprehensive and strengthen the role of parents, learners, government and SGBs." -
Source: BuaNews |
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:13 | 
Written by Editor | 
RSS