Date: 13/01/2004
Source: Democratic Alliance
Title: Leon: Opening of Gauteng schools - Real change in education
SPEECH BY TONY LEON, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY, THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE
Today, ten years after our country became a true democracy, the vast majority of South Africans are still not free from the chains of poverty. And millions of people, young and old alike, still lack the skills that they need to find work in the formal economy.
It is clear that the only path to true liberation is through improving the quality of education in South Africa. That is why the Democratic Alliances new education policy is called "Liberation Through Education." We believe that the only way for South Africans to win economic freedom is for us to radically improve the knowledge and the skills that each and every one of us possesses.
The government claims that the number of learners passing matric has increased dramatically in the past five years. But these figures are highly dubious, and they are being contested by education experts. The number of learners writing matric examinations has actually decreased by 11% since 1994 and by 14% since 1999.
Last week, Umalusi, the statutory body that oversees the matric exams, denied reports that it would appoint a panel of independent experts to study the results. But it should do so immediately. It must investigate whether exam questions have become easier and whether grading standards have become too lax.
The integrity of our system of educational standards hangs in the balance.
The reality is that a matric exemption is no longer a sign of a quality education. Universities are complaining that the quality of incoming learners has decreased, and that the literacy and numeracy skills of new students have dropped in recent years. 51% of learners applying to study in technikons in 1990 were functionally literate-able to read at or above grade 8 levels. In 2000, the rate was only 18%.
Consequently, a matric pass is no longer much help in finding a job. Fewer than five percent of this years matriculating students will find jobs in the formal economy.
In 1999 the ANC promised that "all schools would have adequate buildings, electricity, water and sewerage." Five years later, South Africas schools are still crumbling, and there is not enough space to accommodate all of our children. Between 1996 and 2000 the number of schools in new or excellent condition decreased by 27%, while the number in a very weak condition rose by 91%.
The ANC Manifesto promises that the ruling party will ensure that "all children have decent classrooms". In light of the failures of the recent past, such promises seem little more than empty words.
There is, in fact, a persistent shortage of classrooms. Last year, 61 000 additional children turned up unexpectedly at Gautengs schools on the first day of classes. Most of them were learners from other provinces.
Gauteng schools were already short of about 3 000 classrooms. The new arrivals meant that another 1 500 classrooms would be needed, at the very least. That number is likely to increase this year as well, far ahead of the paltry number of new classrooms that are being built.
South Africa needs real change in education. That is what the DAs policy calls for.
We want, first of all, to get the basics right and make sure that each and every school provides a safe, sanitary, and stable learning environment.
We want to introduce a voucher programme that would allow parents to choose where to send their children to school. That would allow children to gain access to the best opportunities available to them, and it would reward schools for good performance.
We also want to create a nation-wide bursary programme aimed at the most academically promising 350 000 children from low-income families, giving them the opportunity to gain access to better schools.
These are just a few of the DAs proposals for real and fundamental change in education.
We must remember that we are not simply educating our children to meet the standards set by the Department of Education. We are educating them to be workers in a globalised economy. We can pass as many matriculants as we like.
But we-as parents, teachers and administrators-will deserve a failing grade if we cannot give them the tools they need to compete in a rapidly changing world.
January 13, 2004
Source: Democratic Alliance
Title: Leon: Opening of Gauteng schools - Real change in education
SPEECH BY TONY LEON, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY, THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE
Today, ten years after our country became a true democracy, the vast majority of South Africans are still not free from the chains of poverty. And millions of people, young and old alike, still lack the skills that they need to find work in the formal economy.
It is clear that the only path to true liberation is through improving the quality of education in South Africa. That is why the Democratic Alliances new education policy is called "Liberation Through Education." We believe that the only way for South Africans to win economic freedom is for us to radically improve the knowledge and the skills that each and every one of us possesses.
The government claims that the number of learners passing matric has increased dramatically in the past five years. But these figures are highly dubious, and they are being contested by education experts. The number of learners writing matric examinations has actually decreased by 11% since 1994 and by 14% since 1999.
Last week, Umalusi, the statutory body that oversees the matric exams, denied reports that it would appoint a panel of independent experts to study the results. But it should do so immediately. It must investigate whether exam questions have become easier and whether grading standards have become too lax.
The integrity of our system of educational standards hangs in the balance.
The reality is that a matric exemption is no longer a sign of a quality education. Universities are complaining that the quality of incoming learners has decreased, and that the literacy and numeracy skills of new students have dropped in recent years. 51% of learners applying to study in technikons in 1990 were functionally literate-able to read at or above grade 8 levels. In 2000, the rate was only 18%.
Consequently, a matric pass is no longer much help in finding a job. Fewer than five percent of this years matriculating students will find jobs in the formal economy.
In 1999 the ANC promised that "all schools would have adequate buildings, electricity, water and sewerage." Five years later, South Africas schools are still crumbling, and there is not enough space to accommodate all of our children. Between 1996 and 2000 the number of schools in new or excellent condition decreased by 27%, while the number in a very weak condition rose by 91%.
The ANC Manifesto promises that the ruling party will ensure that "all children have decent classrooms". In light of the failures of the recent past, such promises seem little more than empty words.
There is, in fact, a persistent shortage of classrooms. Last year, 61 000 additional children turned up unexpectedly at Gautengs schools on the first day of classes. Most of them were learners from other provinces.
Gauteng schools were already short of about 3 000 classrooms. The new arrivals meant that another 1 500 classrooms would be needed, at the very least. That number is likely to increase this year as well, far ahead of the paltry number of new classrooms that are being built.
South Africa needs real change in education. That is what the DAs policy calls for.
We want, first of all, to get the basics right and make sure that each and every school provides a safe, sanitary, and stable learning environment.
We want to introduce a voucher programme that would allow parents to choose where to send their children to school. That would allow children to gain access to the best opportunities available to them, and it would reward schools for good performance.
We also want to create a nation-wide bursary programme aimed at the most academically promising 350 000 children from low-income families, giving them the opportunity to gain access to better schools.
These are just a few of the DAs proposals for real and fundamental change in education.
We must remember that we are not simply educating our children to meet the standards set by the Department of Education. We are educating them to be workers in a globalised economy. We can pass as many matriculants as we like.
But we-as parents, teachers and administrators-will deserve a failing grade if we cannot give them the tools they need to compete in a rapidly changing world.
January 13, 2004
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
