Article: New chapter in schools curriculum

[Picard]

What do you think of new graduates?”
Not overly impressed. Not their fault really.

Why are you not impressed?

I'm not trying to argue with you. Just wanting to find reasons. I also have my own problems with many things in education.

 

[Fazda]

Be amazed then. Do you fondly believe that a ‘practicing teacher’ is more qualified to pronounce on issues (which in many cases) they know nothing about? I am totally underwhelmed at the standard of many teachers and they should, on no account, be let loose on defenceless children.

Not necessarily, but you certainly have a hell of a lot to say about a system that you have not taught in.

 

[Kaine]

Hmmm, lets just hope this works. The government better sort out two things in the next ten years else South Africa will collapse, and that is educating kids properly (get that matric pass rate up to 80%) and pump out tons more Artisans, without either of those, we are in deep shyte.

not gonna happen. see, it works like this: if the great uneducated masses stay that way, they then are referred to as voting fodder. who will believe any old **** spouted at them from the ivory towers of the guavament. this plays into their hands, so they can stay in power, and on the gravy/money train

 

[Palimino]

Why are you not impressed?

I'm not trying to argue with you. Just wanting to find reasons. I also have my own problems with many things in education.

My wife, who is smartish, but (by her own admission) far from being the smartest in her undergraduate class, showed me several of her undergraduate essays.

Aside: Forty years later she delves into an old shoebox and resurrects her old essays. The mind boggles.

They were 1st class. I don’t think a present day lecturer is as well-informed and articulate as she was then. Standards have plummeted. I speak to many (old style) academics and they are of the same opinion. This is not simple nostalgia, “In my day...”

What concerns me is that things have been dumbed-down to such an extent that it is an easy ride for some. They never pick-up the study habit (they don’t have to) which is a by product of pre-tertiary schooling. When academic study exertion is required they don’t know how. Bad performance is blamed on inferior education. This is only partially true.

 

[(@) (@) twister]

@ Palimino - Canada, New Zealand and many other 1st world nations failed to implement OBE succesfully. What makes you think the current government can make a success of it. Not in a millions years - but still - lets try - after all us taxpayers don't mind paying billions of rand for systems that don't work...

 

[Fazda]

@ Palimino - Canada, New Zealand and many other 1st world nations failed to implement OBE succesfully. What makes you think the current government can make a success of it. Not in a millions years - but still - lets try - after all us taxpayers don't mind paying billions of rand for systems that don't work...

At last! Some sense!