Revisit content of studies
THE recent announcement by the Department of Basic Education to amend the pass requirements for pupils in grades 1 to 9 refers.
The idea is practical but I believe there is no need to lower the pass marks.
What we need to do is revisit the curriculum in order to prepare pupils for life after matric.
Not everyone uses what is being taught in subjects like maths.
There is just too much time and effort being spent on maths.
By this I do not mean pure maths or maths should not be taught, it is important, but we need to be realistic.
How often do most grownups need geometry and complicated maths equations in their day-to-day real-life situations?
Why should pupils not intending to become engineers or mathematicians study pure maths?
What needs to be amended is the content being taught in some subjects and the “twotier” education system.
According to researchers, the imbalances in the education system continue to favour the rich class and pupils living in urban areas rather than rural areas.
Since the collapse of apartheid more than 20 years ago, the curriculum and theory have not really changed.
There is an urgent need for curriculum transformation and new vision in the education system in South Africa.
The curriculum needs to embrace social justice education, technology, digital transformation, critical thinking and active learning. Pietermaritzburg