Let’s transform the curriculum instead

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 to re-visit the curriculum in order to prepare pupils for life after matric.

Not everyone uses what is being taught in subjects such as maths. There is too much time and effort spent on maths.

By this I do not mean pure maths or maths should not be taught. They are important subjects, but we need to be realistic.

How often do most grown-ups need geometry and complicated maths equations in their day-to-day, real life situations? Why should students 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 “two-tier” education system. According to researchers, the imbalances in the education system continue to favour the rich and students 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.

The current matric qualification is not good enough to get decent employment, and students lack important skills and training.

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, active learning and skills development.

MOHAMED SAEED

Pietermaritzburg