By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern over the persistently high rates of learner dropouts and repetition urging stakeholders within the education sector to intensify their efforts in tackling these issues.
Ramaphosa delivered a virtual address to a Basic Education lekgotla in Boksburg on Thursday morning
The president said the government needs to address any issue that impedes progress in education.
“Given our limited resources, the Department of Communications and Digital Technology has been instructed and directed to prioritise connectivity for education and health facilities.
“The licensing of communication companies is now linked to their collaboration with the department to enhance connectivity in schools and health facilities, a crucial step towards engraving technology into our education and health systems.
“We are committed to eradicating the digital divide, ensuring equitable opportunities for all learners, regardless of their location, social standing or financial situation.
“Dropout and repetition rates are still unacceptably high, I have spoken about this to you all in the past, and I have urged all of us to reduce the dropout rates and repetition rates.
“Some of the reasons for these high rates include poverty, of course, teenage pregnancy, criminality and the burden that’s put on young people to look after their aged parents and grandparents.”
The President told the Lekgotla that government is actively pursuing policies to try to address the obstacles hindering progress in basic education.
“As the Government, we have continued to pursue pro-poor policies to systematically tackle the multifaceted factors impeding progress in basic education. These policies encompass the establishment of non-fee-paying schools; indeed, 80% of schools in our country do not require fees.
“Moreover, more than 9.6 million children benefit from the national school nutrition programme, free textbooks, scholar transport, and child support grants provided by the Department of Social Development.”
Ramaphosa commended numerous efforts aimed at offering educational assistance in areas with the highest need.
He said these concerted efforts signify government’s commitment to enhancing the educational landscape of South Africa, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, irrespective of their background.
“By addressing these challenges head-on, we reaffirm our dedication to fulfilling Mandela’s vision of education as the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.
“We aim to prepare every child in our country for success in a rapidly evolving global context.
“Our commitment is demonstrated through the Three-Stream Curriculum Model, which incorporates technical, vocational and occupational subjects into basic education. This aligns with the nation’s skill requirements and economic objectives, moving beyond traditional academic subjects to expand learners’ prospects,” he said.
The President highlighted that in the coming year, government is poised to expand the occupational stream into the Further Education and Training Phase. He said this expansion is a testament to government’s resolve to ensure that no learner is left behind.
Early Childhood Development
He further emphasised that Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a key priority for government.
Consequently, government has developed the 2030 Strategy for Early Childhood Development Programmes. The strategy outlines a comprehensive plan to achieve universal access to quality ECD programmes by 2030.
“To ensure that we reach universal access to ECD programmes for children aged 3-5, we will need to provide quality access to an additional 830,000 children. This is over and above the 2.2 million children in this age group who are already accessing ECD programmes.”
“We can agree that the essence of a quality education system lies in the professionalism and quality of teachers, who are fundamental at the school level. They are crucial for developing the skills, knowledge and competencies our country needs for faster economic growth,” he said.
Investing in teachers
Last week, South Africa hosted the 14th International Teacher Task Force Policy Dialogue Forum which emphasised the need for qualified teachers to achieve sustainable development goals and support the Africa Agenda 2063.
The forum concluded that global investment in teachers is essential to ensuring their competence, professionalism and support.
“We will do everything possible to continue supporting our teachers, who are the combatants for the silent revolution happening in basic education.”