South Africa is experiencing a lack of skills amid severe unemployment. In other words, people are unemployed not only because there are not enough jobs, but also because they do not possess the necessary skills. This is obviously an indication that there are serious flaws in the South African educational system, which the Minister for Basic Education, Mss Angie Motshekga, wants to rectify by means of new proposals.
At present, all South African learners follow the same syllabus, without the option to choose subjects, until the end of Grade 9 when they obtain the so-called General Education and Training Certificate. After that they can choose to either continue with the Further Education and Training Phase at school or colleges or to venture into the working world. The new proposal offers two new possibilities:
• Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) for 13 new career-orientated subjects have been developed. Three of these subjects can be selected in addition to two languages, Mathematics and Life Orientation;
• CAPS for 26 new career-orientated subjects have been developed. This entails learners taking two languages and Mathematics as well as a subject called Life Skills which contains many of the elements of other existing subjects (Economic and Business Studies, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences). It will comprise nearly half of all schoolwork, while the learner will also specialise in one vocational direction which will make up the other half.
The new qualification actually replaces the so-called Senior Phase that ranges from Grade 7 to 9. It, however, will be offered as a four-year qualification with 26 proposed career paths.
A wide variety of careers, ranging from construction and engineering studies to retail to cosmetics and hairdressing, is proposed. The CAPS specify in detail what equipment educational institutions will need as well as what knowledge and experience teachers / presenters must have.
Input and comments on the 13 new subjects can be provided for 30 days from 11 November and on the new qualification for 21 days from 27 November. In both cases the deadline for input is 18 December.
When a Minister calls for input during December, one cannot help but wonder if they really do want input or not.
The FF Plus views this as a potentially positive development. The party will make use of the opportunity to provide input and calls on all institutions within the educational and related sectors to do the same. It will, however, entail quite a bit of work seeing as the documents are extensive.
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