Let not our children suffer
IT’S that time of the year again when South African education gets thrown into turmoil with threats of disruptions and teacher strikes.
The largest teachers union – Sadtu – is threatening to boycott due to a misunderstanding with the Annual National Assessments (ANA).
The tests taken by pupils from Grade 1 to 6 and Grade 9 are designed to expose teachers to what’s considered best practice in assessments. They help identify interventions that may need to be taken to ensure a better education for children.
Sadtu has also reiterated its criticism of the department’s push to introduce Mandarin into the school curriculum from January next year. It is discouraging members from participating in the envisaged Mandarin training programme for teachers.
It says government should instead focus on consolidating and strengthening the current curriculum and promoting South Africa’s own indigenous languages. Sadtu has accused the Department of Basic Education of imposing policies that “compromise… labour peace”. It has instructed its 250 000 members to boycott invigilating the assessments set for Tuesday until Friday next week. A shameful decision that could impact on the future of our children.
Sadtu says the Department of Basic Education has continuously failed to consult with them on the matter. But are these assessments not essential to ensure that every child becomes literate and proficient in numeracy? Is it also not the tool we need to assess the true state of education in our country?
Last year’s ANAs indicated only 3% of Grade 9 pupils were numerate at a grade-appropriate level. The target is 60%. The average score for the Grade 9 maths assessment was 10.8 percent.
But these dismal figures come as no surprise. It has been a trend since the tests were first introduced in 2010. What is the department of education doing to improve literacy and numeracy? It is clear from the results that teachers are also lacking proper skills. While Sadtu and the Department of Education tussle with each other, our children are suffering.
Let us identify the weaknesses and fix the problems to ensure the future leaders of our country can read and count. Let us turn our schools into learning centres and equip our children with the necessary skills to succeed.
After all, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” said Benjamin Franklin.