12 minute read
Are You Getting The Education You’ve Been Promised
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Your right as a learner must always be the focus
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Fall in love with learning and be curious
Facebook Zero
Social media
Opportunities for Africans
Opportunity Desk for You
ALIVE WITH POSSIBILITY & INSPIRING NEW WAYS
Focusing on your rights as a learner
The number of children enrolled in primary school is at an all-time high, while 36.4% of last year’s matriculating class obtained a National Senior Certificate with bachelor’s exemption. Despite this, the education system still comes under fire. Delia Hamlett looks at what is being done – and what should be done – by government to ensure that you receive the best education possible.
Alive with possibility’ or ‘South Africa: Inspiring new ways’. Both the old and new tourism slogans could work when applied to education. South Africa boasts some of the most inclusive education policies in the world, with your rights as a learner always at the focus.
But what does ‘quality education’ mean? Since 1994, the South African government has been working towards developing quality education that is accessible to all South Africans. Quality education means that – regardless of your race, culture, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or
Characteristics of quality education
• Accessible to all.
• Affordable.
• Representative. The school curriculum should reflect the experiences and frames of reference of the learners.
• Caters to the unique learning needs of each individual learner.
• Adopts a learner-centred approach, which places the focus on the strengths of each learner and helps them address and bridge their challenges. • Offers a healthy, safe and secure environment where learners feel protected while at school. • Ensures learners are healthy and able to participate fully in the teaching-learning partnership. • Facilitates quality teachers who encourage and help learners to develop a lifelong love of learning.
Amanda Chembezi
socio-economic background – you have the right to high-quality, equitable education. But what does this look like in practice?
Amanda Chembezi is a governance and policy sector lead at the African Leadership Academy. She says that, in its most basic form, quality education should be accessible and equitable. You, as a learner, should be able to see yourself in the curriculum that you are being taught. That, she says, is quality. It goes far beyond just ensuring that you attend school every day. It means that you are taught in a way that meets your specific needs and circumstances. You don’t have to conform to and be disadvantaged by a one-sizefits-all approach. This also means that your teachers approach their lessons in a way that makes you feel represented, included and empowered. Dr Sara Black is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation at the University of Johannesburg. She says an important question being asked today is whether your education should prepare you to live in the world as it is now or for a different future. “When we ask what we are preparing our children for, this rests heavily on how we understand the world: what is going on at the moment, how we got here, and whether this is the kind of world we want to assimilate our children into,” she says. She believes that, as a young person, your education should rather equip you to repair the damages of the past and build a new world. “I don’t think teaching children to continue doing what we’ve been doing is a wise idea... because, let’s be honest, we’re making a mess.”
Quality education is the starting point for young people to become educated adults who are creative, analytical and compassionate contributing members of their community
Closing the gap: What is being done?
The Department of Basic Education says some of its key focus areas to ensure equal and quality education for South Africa’s learners include: • Improving the foundational skills of numeracy and literacy, underpinned by a
‘reading revolution’. • Implementing a curriculum with skills and competencies for a changing world in all public schools. • Completing an integrated infrastructure development plan, informed by infrastructure delivery, regular maintenance and resourcing. • Continuing to improve and strengthen provision of education for learners with special needs. • Gradually increasing the number of workbooks available in interactive formats. • Equipping all students with the skills they need to survive and thrive in the
Fourth Industrial Revolution. • Providing end-to-end ICT solutions for schools by developing and distributing digital content for online and offline learning – this also means providing connectivity and hardware to schools.
Fall in love with learning and be curious
Education is not only the government’s responsibility – and if we want to see real-world change in the near future, then we need all hands on deck. That means you too! Education expert Amanda Chembezi says you should invest in your own education: • Fall in love with learning and be curious. “Ask questions about anything and everything, and then look for people who can help you to build knowledge in those things; that’s something you can’t always get in a classroom setting.” There has never been more information available to you than right now.
Social media can be an asset if you use it correctly.
Facebook Zero is also a helpful resource – a data-free version of the social media platform that allows you to access educational pages to help you in your studies. • Search for Facebook pages like Opportunities for
Africans and Opportunity
Desk for You. “These pages post educational content, scholarships and other opportunities for young people, especially in Africa, to tap into.” • Education is not a theoretical concept. The education you receive today directly impacts your life – today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life. • Government has a duty to ensure that you can access quality education, which will empower you to pursue your dreams and live your potential. You cannot learn on an empty stomach! It’s no secret that the education system was a disaster when South Africa first became a democracy in 1994. The impact of the apartheid education system – which largely excluded children from accessing quality education because of the colour of their skin – is still felt today and has an impact on the type of education you receive. There is a lot of work being done to try to right the wrongs of the past and fill the gaps that exist in the South African education system.
Dr Black says, despite the problems that many learners face, it is important to acknowledge that the government does take education seriously. A significant portion of money and resources is dedicated towards improving the quality of education for young South Africans. South Africa has one of the highest enrolment rates for a country of its level of economic development, and nine million of South Africa’s 13 million learners receive a meal at school every day.
Despite the large investment to reform and transform education in South Africa, there are still deep-rooted inequalities that add to the obstacles and challenges numerous scholars face each day. Many schools in the world are moving towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution of education. However, in South Africa, real quality education is still available mainly to those who can afford it. The majority of South African learners don’t even have access to water, toilets, food, classroom furniture or textbooks – let alone a computer lab or tablet for e-learning and computer literacy.
This gap became very noticeable as the Covid-19 pandemic invaded the country and the world. Some learners and teachers
Dr Sara Black
This, however, is not a small task!
Education is everything – education is your power, education is your way in life for whatever you want to do.”
were able to move learning to online platforms, and apps like Zoom, Teams and Discord became new classrooms – to those who could afford it.
The biggest problem with learning during the pandemic was that some learners had access to resources like computers, smartphones and the internet, while others did not. You might have heard the phrase ‘digital divide’ being used, and this situation is what it refers to.
Focus on bread and butter basics… Dr Black feels that government should focus on what she terms ‘bread and butter basics’ – you can’t learn on an empty stomach! She says a focus should be placed on fixing infrastructure, improving basic numeracy and literacy skills, and ensuring children learn on a full stomach. A school should be able to focus on being a school, and not a one-stop fix shop for all of society’s problems. “Schools have to organise transport for students because public transport is failing. Schools have to feed children because the Department of Social Development is not supporting families. Schools check children’s eyes, ears and get them dewormed... this is a public health function.” She says schools need to be supported so that they can do what they are supposed to: teach you and help you develop a knowledge base that will carry you through the rest of your life.
Bridging the digital divide is important but, as a learner, your basic needs should be met first. “Going direct to technology, digital or the Fourth Industrial Revolution is like trying to run the 100 metre sprint in under 10 seconds before you can walk. Access to online materials is not going to improve education for the vast majority who need it,” Black explains.
The contribution of the private sector Inequality in South Africa’s education system is not something that the government can tackle alone; help is needed from the private sector. This means individuals and companies need to step up and help by investing time and money in initiatives that address socioeconomic challenges.
Chembezi says the South African government has put a lot of money towards education. But so has the rest of South Africa. Between 2005 and 2012, education constituted about 35% to 43% of corporate social investment initiatives in South Africa.
The private sector can help by focusing on issues like:
• infrastructure • learner safety and security • teacher development • social welfare • extracurricular activities • additional support in subjects like maths and science.
Chembezi feels this should be encouraged and incentivised by government. “Where the government fails to meet all the needs and demands of learners is where the gap can be filled by the private sector,” she explains.
Malerato Majara (18)
CASE STUDY
NSFAS not enough
“I am studying towards a BSc Property Science at the University of the Witwatersrand. I receive funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The amount covers my tuition, residence fees, textbooks, and a monthly allowance. Now that we’re working online, they’ve offered the option of getting me a laptop as well. The money for the textbooks enables me to buy all of my books, but the allowance they’ve given this year is not enough. Things are way more expensive now. I have to ask for money from my mother to buy extra things I need, but I try to limit myself to buying the necessities first, putting luxuries aside.
I applied for the data option from Wits so that I am able to attend online classes.
When applying for NSFAS, you have to be patient while waiting for a response.
My mother and I also spent a lot of time applying for other bursaries so that we could be sure I would be able to attend university. “
LEADING THE WAY
Established more than 100 years ago, Van Schaik Bookstore is one of the leading academic bookstores in Southern Africa, with more than 70 stores in South Africa, as well as two in Namibia, one in Botswana and three in Eswatini.
Van Schaik also offers seasonal sales points, an online store and a library service. Our extensive experience in servicing institutions and students through appropriate sales channels, customised selling platforms and excellent resources has helped us to deliver a world-class service to institutions, staff and students. Accordingly, Van Schaik was awarded the Sefika Academic Bookseller of the Year Award from 2012–2017.
Bookstores We have more than 70 retail bookstores in South Africa, including two in Namibia, one in Botswana, three in Eswatini, and five under the Bookmark brand. Our bookstores are conveniently situated on campuses or in the vicinity of tertiary institutions.
Call centre We have a national call centre to assist with general enquiries, such as book availability, costs, quotes and store details. Our national share-call number is 08600 STUDY/78839.
Library Division The Library Division is a dedicated national supplier focusing on the library market across Southern Africa, servicing school, TVET, university, municipal and provincial libraries. Online Our website – www.vanschaik.com – extends our services to customers who prefer the convenience of online shopping.
Corporate social investment Van Schaik Bookstore is committed to responsible corporate citizenship and community investment. Our key focus areas are education and literacy projects and programmes in institutions, organisations and communities.
Leading the way with ACADEMIC TEXTBOOKS
Van Schaik provides academic textbooks to the South African higher education market. Our self-help and counter stores are either situated on or within walking distance of local campuses. STUDENTS • Our account system assists parents and students with the book-buying process. • We work with other payment methods such as Fundi, Intellicard, sBux and other bursaries in our neighboring countries. • Our rewards programme offers students discounts, promotional giveaways and partner deals. BURSARY ADMINISTRATION Van Schaik works closely with institutions regarding the disbursement of bursaries and loans. Van Schaik supplies school textbooks and other learner and teacher support material to schools.
Buy directly from our stores or buy the books online and have them delivered directly to your home, school or office. Our website and contact centre can host customised schoolbook and stationery lists. Learners can log onto www.vanschaik.com, order off the school booklist, pay online and get the order delivered. Van Schaik offers textbooks and learner support material to nursing students and institutions.
The perks of shopping with us include: • Students can buy directly from our stores. • The Nursing Colleges can buy in bulk and supply their students. • Parents can buy books on online or in-store and have them delivered directly. Our stores can stock a full selection of nursing college prescribed textbooks based on the estimates and advice of the institution. Bulk orders can be arranged and be distributed directly to students by the college. The Van Schaik Library Division services GET, TVET, HET, corporate and government libraries and resource centres within Southern Africa.
We assist libraries with all their book, subscription and media acquisition requirements. Our services include: • Submissions of selected titles based on requested subject areas. • Sourcing product and quoting based on title or subject specific requests. • Coordinating book exhibitions. • Supplying the latest printed and electronic catalogues.
