A DISCOURSE ON EDUCATION FOR CHANGED LIVES by Professor Jonathan Jansen from the University of the Free State, Tuesday 16 September 2014 at UWC. Compiled by Barbara Oosthuizen ‘Our Government feeds us a lie – they tell us that all is okay with our education – they base this lie on the averages of our statistics. Do they tell us that ¾ of the youth in the rural Eastern Cape and Limpopo don’t work Do they tell us that the majority of schools in poor areas are dysfunctional Do they tell us that the few who do well, boost the many who don’t Do they tell us that our pass mark is the lowest in the world Do they tell us that students in the higher grades can only fail once – and then go on to higher education Do they tell us that countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Namibia are producing Highly educated men and women. Our youth will imitate our leaders – bad behaviour in Government, Parliament and Schools will be seen as acceptable. Our schools need to have a rhythm and routine which will infiltrate from the teachers to the pupils, and become a powerful teaching tool by example. South African youth are deeply lacking in confidence in their own abilities. We need to tell them every day how good they are, that they can do well and our collective messages must be positive. Poverty DOES NOT define the possibilities for our youth, many of whom are taught not to have high expectations. In schools lacking resources, high marks were achieved at schools with Principals and teachers who by example set a rhythm and routine which the youth could emulate – arriving prepared and on time for class, arriving for class, dressing like teachers and greeting children. The most powerful model of life and living are your parents, or parent. This country needs to raise the responsibility of the moral and emotional support of parents, and in particular the fathers. The Faith Community does have a job to do – to continually tell Government how to believe in our youth. To apply constant pressure to build up and change the face of our % mark. If the pass mark percentage is raised, marks and the percentage of youngsters passing will rise. Leadership must recognize its own vulnerability and brokenness. Our Youth need to have HOPE – to be able to imagine a different world. They do have the capacity to lead this country out of its turmoil – no one tells them that they are smart. We must. We all need to speak out - we expect much better from a country that pinned its hopes on education.’
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 20:16:29 +0000
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