The fuss and fanfare that the highstake matric exams attract from the public and education departments alike is quite hard to fathom. It’s as if we all agree to buy into the idea that the results really are a reflection of the health of our education system, despite the many sides that are masked by this simple statistic.
One aspect that must be given attention is that an estimated 60% of those who succeed in the matric exam will end up unemployed. Or perhaps the correct word here is ‘unemployable”, since this is not so much a reflection on the fact that there are no job opportunities out there – it is because school leavers lack the skills needed in the job market.
The most important issue, then, is that our matriculants leave school equipped with skills and knowledge for a viable future of employment opportunities. And if you can be awarded a matric pass on the basis of a handful of G, F and E symbols, how meaningful is this result?
But one success of last year’s matric exams that deserves unqualified praise is the administrative side to the process. Few irregularities were reported – which does inspire confidence in the security measures the education department has put in place. It seems as if a sound logistical foundation has at last taken shape on which we can now build.
But enough of matric exams. Of far more interest – and significance – to me are the humble, daily processes of schooling.
As the new school year begins, the real indexes of the health of our education system come to the fore. The administrative tasks ahead of learning and teaching are many, and it is with some concern that we witness again the chaos that precedes education: late registration of learners, too few books and desks, timetables yet to be worked out, educators finding their feet—
There is reason to indulge some degree of chaos. As an education system, we are as yet in our infancy and it shows all over the place. But the chaos must have its limits. It is when the administrative functioning of schools is matched by a level of skill and dedication from educators that we could say we are reaching something like success.
I want to encourage all involved in our schools to go about this year’s challenges with fresh enthusiasm – and for all of us to do our very best to shine where we are.