South Africa is getting new ‘technical’ schools – here’s what you need to know

[BusinessTech]

South Africa is getting new ‘technical’ schools – here’s what you need to know

In his February State of the Nation Address, president Cyril Ramaphosa said that his government would be introducing a number of new technical schools to meet the growing demand for skills in the country.

 

[Vrotappel]

Bringing all the apartheid stuff back?

 

[Marsie27]

It's high time this happened. It's ridiculous that way too many of our young people get pushed into an academic-type high school 'education', at the end of which they have nothing usable to show for it, because there has effectively been no alternative.

 

[Lupus]

But they've not built any normal schools?
Maybe build new schools as well instead of once again just converting what already exists.

 

[Hamster]

Bringing all the apartheid stuff back?

Commandos next

 

[Voicy]

I attended a technical high school during the 90s. Kids and even parents of kids from normal academic schools thought we were dumb and that we were attending learning-disability schools.

They're probably right about us being dumb, but I wouldn't say that's mutually exclusive.

I always found it odd when people said they had 9 As in high school with a bunch of weird classes to choose from. We had set classes and the only choice we had was our trade and later on computer programming.

So our fixed classes were:

Std 6 - 7:
* Afrikaans
* English
* Geography
* History
* Science (physics/chem)
* Maths
* Technical Drawing
* Trade (Motor Mech, Fitting & Turning, Woodwork, Technica Electrical)

Std 8 - 10:
* Afrikaans
* English
* Science (physics/chem)
* Maths
* Technical Drawing
* You chosen trade
* Optional: Computer programming

All of these were mandatory, our only choice was whether or not we would take them on Higher Grade or Stranded Grade.

 

[genetic]

Technical schools in my day were schools for the academically challenged.

 

[Lupus]

Technical schools in my day were schools for the academically challenged.

Which turns out doesn't mean stupid, school is actually horrible for a lot of kids. Especially those that are great with their hands but not so good on the school works.

 

[Hamster]

I'm all for ambagskole. Not everyone is meant to be a doctor and lawyer. Somebody needs to physically build homes, fix cars, plumbing and make TV cabinets.

Some may call it academically challenged, I call it excelling at craftsmanship. Algebra, chemistry and and physics are a waste of time for most. Who gives a damn about whether or not you can draw the structure of benzene molecule anyway.

 

[Voicy]

I'm all for ambagskole. Not everyone is meant to be a doctor and lawyer. Somebody needs to physically build homes, fix cars, plumbing and make TV cabinets.

Some may call it academically challenged, I call it excelling at craftsmanship. Algebra, chemistry and and physics are a waste of time for most anyway. Who gives a damn about whether or not you can draw the structure of benzene molecule anyway.

This is just it. I'm not sure why we were called the "dumb schools", but we had to take maths and science to matric. As opposed to academic schools who could drop it for history or whatnot.

 

[The Voice]

I attended a technical high school during the 90s. Kids and even parents of kids from normal academic schools thought we were dumb and that we were attending learning-disability schools.

They're probably right about us being dumb, but I wouldn't say that's mutually exclusive.

I always found it odd when people said they had 9 As in high school with a bunch of weird classes to choose from. We had set classes and the only choice we had was our trade and later on computer programming.

So our fixed classes were:

Std 6 - 7:
* Afrikaans
* English
* Geography
* History
* Science (physics/chem)
* Maths
* Technical Drawing
* Trade (Motor Mech, Fitting & Turning, Woodwork, Technica Electrical)

Std 8 - 10:
* Afrikaans
* English
* Science (physics/chem)
* Maths
* Technical Drawing
* You chosen trade
* Optional: Computer programming

All of these were mandatory, our only choice was whether or not we would take them on Higher Grade or Stranded Grade.

And could immediately get a job when you left school and make useful contribution to society. No shame in having a trade.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I attended a technical high school during the 90s. Kids and even parents of kids from normal academic schools thought we were dumb and that we were attending learning-disability schools.

They're probably right about us being dumb, but I wouldn't say that's mutually exclusive.

I always found it odd when people said they had 9 As in high school with a bunch of weird classes to choose from. We had set classes and the only choice we had was our trade and later on computer programming.

So our fixed classes were:

Std 6 - 7:
* Afrikaans
* English
* Geography
* History
* Science (physics/chem)
* Maths
* Technical Drawing
* Trade (Motor Mech, Fitting & Turning, Woodwork, Technica Electrical)

Std 8 - 10:
* Afrikaans
* English
* Science (physics/chem)
* Maths
* Technical Drawing
* You chosen trade
* Optional: Computer programming

All of these were mandatory, our only choice was whether or not we would take them on Higher Grade or Stranded Grade.

I also went to Port Rex. Slimey was headmaster and Nutsy taught science... Oh and Taylor was my English teacher LOL.

 

[Lupus]

It's not new schools, the headline should just be, schools changing focus. The ANC government hasn't built anything new, just renames.

 

[Urist]

Standards were the same all over, but instead of doing geography and biology we did tech civil, electrics or mechanics... Woodwork for the more challenged.
I'd say on avg. the kids were probably more "academically challenged", but like in every school, there were a few bright sparks.
Overall, I don't think it's good to learn a trade, some people find the technical stuff much more interesting as well, and I think a lot of the trades have a lot better job satisfaction than sitting in a cubicle all day.

Arguably more STEM oriented.... but that's back in the day... don't know if it's still the same.

 

[R13...]

It's not new schools, the headline should just be, schools changing focus. The ANC government hasn't built anything new, just renames.

Why do you say that? Close on 300 new schools have been built since 1994.

As for technical education I think it's a good idea but they're letting TVET colleges fail to lack of competent teachers and corruption of officials and students both. Not sure how this will be better when the teaching staff would need to be similar to those.

 

[Voicy]

I also went to Port Rex. Slimey was headmaster and Nutsy taught science... Oh and Taylor was my English teacher LOL.

I quite liked him as a headmaster. Valerie was something else, but she taught us dutchies well.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I quite liked him as a headmaster. Valerie was something else, but she taught us dutchies well.

Val was unique. Let's just say I wasn't one who sat in the cream row lol. I was there around 86 iirc. Slimey was indeed a good guy. Jan Preyt made me a Sargent once. Taught me a good lesson that I'll always respect him for haha. Good old days.
Puchert, McDonald, trying to recall the other workshop teachers... Good school.

 

[Thor]

Won't happen

 

[John Tempus]

If they are going to introduce technical (practical) schools that is a fine solution however they better include a mandatory business economics subject because once those kids graduate they will have to know how to start their own business.

There is no jobs or not nearly enough jobs for these newly qualified students so they better have the know-how to start their own business because that is what it takes for the average South African to have any hope of a future.

 

[John Tempus]

Why do you say that? Close on 300 new schools have been built since 1994.

I think those numbers need to be revised. I am pretty sure since 1994 close to if not more than 300 schools have also been burned down.