Zuma: Learn from 'old white schools'

daveza

daveza

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http://www.news24.com/Content/South...-2010-10-33/Zuma_Learn_from_old_white_schools

Johannesburg - If township schools want to improve their matric results, they should learn from "old white schools" about discipline.

And instead of driving South African farmers out of the country, agricultural and commercial farmers should be cherished for the good of the country, since this is such an important sector.

According to Free State Premier Ace Magashule, this was president Zuma's message to a delegation of the Free State executive council earlier this week.

Magashule and the Free State MECs met with Zuma on Tuesday in Nkandla (the president's hometown, where he was married the day before), Magashule said on Thursday at a news conference about the Free State's matric results.

Attitude change needed

According to Magashule, Zuma said if South Africa is to be rebuilt, the country should focus most of its resources on education, and not poverty or unemployment. That way, recovery and rebuilding will happen on its own.

Furthermore, a change in attitude is necessary, so that apartheid or subsidies to commercial farmers don't always get the blame.

"When he addressed school principals [at the meeting], he said they can go and learn about discipline from the old white schools where they teach for seven hours a day, while schools in the township teach for three or four hours a day and then expect to do well.

"He emphasised the fact that schools must understand the truly important issues at hand, such as teachers being punctual."

'Black kids can achieve'

According to Magashule, Zuma also said that when commercial farmers' subsidies were cut, they relocated to Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique where they added value, instead of in South Africa.

After the news conference Magashule told Volksblad that black pupils' achievements in "old white schools", such as Grey College, Eunice and Brebner in Bloemfontein, thanks to the changing demographics of South Africa, show that black children can also achieve excellent academic results with the appropriate discipline and tuition.

"It's not just about resources, but about who the leader is and how you work together."

Learn from "old white schools", says Zuma.

"And don't alienate SA farmers."
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It's little glimmers of +1 like this that make we wonder whether we will get there after all.
 
Well he makes the right noises thats for sure but we need to see these things put into practice.
 
I've been thinking about this for a while now. Zuma's personal life aside, there has probably been more positive movement and signs under him than we've seen during Mbeki's 10 year long tenure.

One only needs to look at the communications sector to realise that it may not just be noise.
 
Smooth Criminal said:
I've been thinking about this for a while now. Zuma's personal life aside, there has probably been more positive movement and signs under him than we've seen during Mbeki's 10 year long tenure.

One only needs to look at the communications sector to realise that it may not just be noise.
Click to expand...

I'm no fan of the ANC or Zuma, but I agree with that. He seems to be putting some effort into things.
I was worried at first, but he sure seems to be a step up from Mbeki.
 
Zuma's opinions at any one time reflect the audience he's preaching to, and the amount of potential dosh they have.

Nothing new here at all.
 
""When he addressed school principals [at the meeting], he said they can go and learn about discipline from the old white schools where they teach for seven hours a day, while schools in the township teach for three or four hours a day and then expect to do well."

Im willing to bet a yrs salary that this is all "talk" once again. Barring the fact that there are some extremely lazy teachers out there, there are some really competent ones as well. The fact is look at the conditions they teach under, this is the underlying problem, judging by the wording, it seems as if he is stating its a problem teachers must go and sort out. How abt some action Mr Zuma, something like, we are embarking on a program to instill discipline, like in the "old white schools" - a little more action speak , and then we will start believing you.
 
mac_mac74 said:
""When he addressed school principals [at the meeting], he said they can go and learn about discipline from the old white schools where they teach for seven hours a day, while schools in the township teach for three or four hours a day and then expect to do well."

Im willing to bet a yrs salary that this is all "talk" once again. Barring the fact that there are some extremely lazy teachers out there, there are some really competent ones as well. The fact is look at the conditions they teach under, this is the underlying problem, judging by the wording, it seems as if he is stating its a problem teachers must go and sort out. How abt some action Mr Zuma, something like, we are embarking on a program to instill discipline, like in the "old white schools" - a little more action speak , and then we will start believing you.
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The principals are the ones that are immidiately responsible for the performance and discipline in their respecticve schools. I say he was talking to the right audience. Here is a an idea they can try instead of blaming poverty and lack of resources - can't expect higher level gvt officials to sort out such issues as panctuality in each school. Why is there a principal in a school if the president of the country is going to instill the discipline.

The poor conditions excuse is a mostly a cop out...when I was in high school there was this pricipal who became legendary after turning one of the neighbouring schools in deep rural KZN into a powerhouse by achieving 100% matric pass rates every year. It was all about discipline and dedication starting from his staff. They worked extremely long hours with the matriculants from January till the last paper was written. In the end every pupil in the area wanted to do matric in that school because they knew they were guaranteed a very good pass.
 
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