The Joke of SA Education.

As a new school year begins, I feel a need to reflect on the past Matric/National Senior Certificate (NSF)/ Grade 12 year and specifically the much celebrated results.

What does one need to pass the NSF or any other grade in South Africa:
40% in your home language.
30% in a second language.
30% in mathematical literacy or mathematics.
40% in life orientation.
40% in one of the remaining three subjects.
30% in other two

Now, with this in mind, our esteemed Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga (who did not cover herself in glory during 2012) is very pleased that some 73% of learners (formerly known as Pupils) passed the NSF. This guru on education states that the 2012 results would 'restore confidence' in our schooling. (seriously).
She does not of course comment on the estimated 50% of Grade ones who never make it to Matric or even the 40% of Grade 11's who never see Grade 12.
She also failed to bring up her stuff about about the non delivery of text books last year.

Reflecting on the percentage required to pass, how stupid must one be to actually fail? You see, when the ANC took over, they could not keep a system from the past (whether it was working or not) and replaced it with their own dysfunctional one. The ANCs 'free education' election promise also burned like a vampire in the midday sun. Schooling now cost as much as university did back then.
Year after year the pass rate was pathetic...so these brilliant minds take a look at what they can fix to rectify this troublesome situation.

Did they decide to look at the syllabus..nah....the quality of schools..nah...the quality of teaching..nah..the study material nah....I mean, how would improving any of those help make more people pass? Why improve the system.
So they did what any clever government think- tank does when marks are low....lower the pass rate. Genius. Who would have thought of that. And as a result, the under achievers also get a shot at passing. Talk about a good idea.

Now, the Education Department and ANC government or gloating in their self made sense of achievement..ignoring the reality- that the quality of the NSF is so low that most who are lucky enough to move on to higher education, will not even see out the first year and any country outside Africa, will pass out laughing if any prospective job seeker presented their NSF Certificate to them.
It is a fact that most high school learners do not know know how to read or write properly...and this is not even mentioning the spelling. Even worse- the Teachers themselves could not pass their own tests they were asked to write at the beginning of this year.

So..as 2013 commence  I suggest that we reduce the pass mark to 10% across all subjects and then next year we can celebrate the 85% NSF pass rate...I should be in government! Oh right...if I was then my brats would be in a private school and not subject to the Department of Educations quality education.