As years go by, as things evolve, the education system also evolves and changes, things don’t remain the same. A collaboration between all systems should be at play. According to the Ministry of Basic Education, the responsibility for education in South Africa is shared by the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The DBE deals with all schools from Grade R to Grade 12, and adult literacy programmes, while the DHET deals with universities, and other post-school education and training, as well as coordinating the Human Resource Development Strategy for South Africa (HRDSSA).
“The DBE develops, maintains and supports a South African school education system for the 21st century in which all citizens have access to lifelong learning, as well as education and training, which will, in turn, contribute towards improving quality of life and building a peaceful, prosperous and democratic South Africa.”, outlined the Ministry of Education.
The foundation of Education is the most critical, this phase of education must be taken into serious consideration. This is where monitoring and nurturing are most essential, but despite good efforts and measures to be put in place, there will always be problems encountered along the way; poor-performing teachers, and lack of parental support to students making the education flow hard for teachers and schools, students that live in poor and abusive homes, low levels of accountability from teachers and students for the wrongs things done in schools, and many other things that aren’t making the education system effective.
The education system needs a pioneering leader who is orderly and can handle the pressure. Angelina Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education, first appointed on May 11 2009, reappointed on 26 May 2014 and 29 May 2019, is a good steward of the education system in South Africa, overseeing the Department of Basic Education, which is responsible for Primary and Secondary Education.
Teachers’ training and programs organized well to exercise and expand their leadership skills not only in the classrooms but in all things around them is vital. All things work with the roots and all things interconnect. How you lead at home, and in your surroundings eventually falls back to the kind of leadership you portray at school. Implementing programs that fully help them achieve success through innovative strategies and practices.
We can’t miss parental support. Extending your hand to give support as a parent and assisting your child and the teacher where necessary to make the load easy is needed. This can be shown in many ways, showing great interest in your child’s homework, hygiene, mental health, and physical appearance, and questioning things whilst taking great interest in what your child is learning about, can’t be marked down. There is also no problem in a parent volunteering at school to show the child that indeed they are behind them. Do this if you have time, and with things that you are passionate about, so that as apparent you don’t wear yourself out.
School Maintenance
According to a report from the Western Cape Education, 26 incidents of burglary and vandalism at 24 schools were recorded over the holiday period. They mentioned that, while this is a significant decrease compared to the same holiday period last year when 48 incidents were reported at 42 schools, they are nonetheless disappointed that once again schools must pick up the pieces after criminal damage and theft.
Damaging and stealing are a total drawback and affect the curriculum setup, sabotaging students’ future and effective learning without fear. It creates an environment that is unsafe for the children and ties the students to fear. We all have a role to play, in making sure the future of education is in good hands.
