Every time one reads an article about outcomes-based education (OBE), one gets the feeling that it will do the country no good; or that its implementation has failed dismally.
But as a mathematics and science teacher who has been part of the public schooling system for more than 18 years, who taught in the private sector and had a stint as an educator in the United States, I have a different opinion concerning the success of OBE since its inception in South Africa.
Based on numerous interviews with fellow teachers, I strongly feel that committed and dedicated educators have found their feet and have started to enjoy teaching the new curriculum. “We are starting to have direction and we now know what we are teaching. Everyone is in favour of the National Curriculum Statement,” one Gauteng science teacher recently told me.
Those educators with feet still in both camps find it difficult to cope with OBE. These are groups of men and women who are still caught up in the old curriculum and are at the same time trying to teach OBE, but with little or no interest at all. In contrast those who patiently grapple with the new syllabus will master it.
Further Education and Training educators who are still wrestling with the teaching of the syllabus could seek assistance and advice from neighbouring schools. Sharing information with colleagues is the way to go if we want to see good matriculation results at the end of the academic year.
The department of education has set the stage for us, but the onus lies on us as educators. It takes only a bit of courage, commitment and a few sleepless nights spent on your preparations and you will have your feet under the table.
If this education system failed elsewhere in the world, let’s be the first educators to make it work. When content presents problems, let’s use the available technology for research and to download valuable information or at least network with colleagues from other parts of the world.
Do not go to bed without having thoroughly prepared for the next day. Surely you do not want to ruin your reputation in front of your learners?
The minister of education can provide us only with resources to use in our classes — she cannot teach on our behalf. It’s up to us to make use of the workshops’ information to contribute to the success of our learners. The department of education is spending a lot of money to better equip us to become experts in our specialisation subjects or learning areas.
As educators we are pioneers. We deserve a pat on the back for having endured the hardships of the implementation of OBE to date. Bravo!
-Zack Makhoba, Port Shepstone