• Thabile Mange writes:
Our education system is bad. It focuses on Grade 12s and ignores the foundation phase. Yet the foundation phase prepares learners for higher grades. Once the foundation phase is shaky, other grades are also affected.
Our high schools in the townships are obsessed with a 100 percent matric pass rate. Consequently they compromise the rest period of learners. The Department of Education needs to intervene as a matter of urgency.
In the townships, Grade 12s go to school from Monday to Sunday. This is wrong. They are putting unnecessary pressure on our kids. In the process, schools compromise their health. And that of the teachers.
During the week, Grade 12s attend classes from 7am to 5pm. That’s 10 hours. As a result, they no longer do household chores. Now parents have to do everything: cook, wash dishes and clean the house. That’s unfair.
Saturday and Sunday are meant for learners to take a break and rest. Kids no longer do extramural activities and socialise. They are also not going to church anymore. They are treated like prisoners: there is no balance in their lives.
Matric learners who attend school in town spend six hours or less in class. They rarely have extra classes. They are at home on weekends and they perform well, if not excellent. I’m talking about public schools here.
I’m not against learners working hard and attending extra classes. I’m against kids going to school for seven days – that’s too much. Our schools are chasing 100 percent pass rates at the expense of our children. This madness must come to an end.
