Blog 6: South Africa’s Education System Faces Huge Challenges,

Blog 6: South Africa’s Education System Faces Huge Challenges, Deborah Faircloth

This article focuses on the advances in early education and the challenges in the high school years in the education system in South Africa. The number of young children in school has increased substantially which has been a source of pride for the South African government. The concern is the large number of high school dropouts which is approximately forty-five percent. To add to this problem, the unemployment rate is twenty-four percent which creates an even tougher challenge for the students who drop out and go searching for a job. These challenges get even greater because of the fact that ninety-two percent of the schools do not have libraries. The schools in the rural areas are the hardest hit historically. Teachers and principals have not always had access to proper training, especially in math and science. And, perhaps, the worst problem for the education system in South Africa may be the language barrier. The Education Minister promises many improvements including paying more attention to female students, helping students to select the best classes, and making sure that teachers are properly trained in their subject area. The government also promises free math and science textbooks for high schools this year.

It is plain to see that the challenges for the children in the South African education system are much greater that the developed countries of the world. In fact, to call these extreme hardships challenges, is quite an understatement. With a dropout rate of twenty-five percent there, compared to eight percent in the United States, it seems like they could use some help. When Americans complain about the unemployment rate being ten or 12 percent, I wonder what they would think about twenty-four? I do not know of one school in the United States that does not have a library. The language barrier is usually not a huge issue here either. So, I am baffled by the disparity and then the amount of whining and complaining that goes on here. If some of the whiners could take a glimpse at what students in South Africa have to endure, then perhaps they would close their mouths and offer a hand.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/southern/South-Africas-Education-System-Faces-Huge-Challenges-140157193.html