The South African School System Needs Rebuilding
Letter to the Editor, The Mercury, 5 October 2015
At the heart of any national system of education are located
a corps of dedicated teachers drawn for all races and ideological outlooks who
are wholeheartedly committed to the performance of their professional duties,
namely teaching the ‘learners’ under
their care, within and outside the classroom.
These brilliant, committed people are indispensable to the
quality of teaching and learning that distinguish the system. They are a
foundation to build on. They can serve as live models to those teachers who
have not the skills, insights, or commitment to engage as fully as they should
with the educational endeavour.
Our system of state schooling needs to be rebuilt from the
ground up. The following are a few suggestions on how to go about the process.
1.
Recognise that teachers are at the core of the system.
Their critical work in providing role models cannot be supplanted by
technology, although it can be amplified, and the overload of administrative
duties that sucks the lifeblood from the classroom interactions can be reduced
and the process made more efficient.
2.
Every teacher union should examine its constitution
to establish the extent to which the welfare of the children, and not only its
members, is served thereby.
3.
The South African Council of Educators guiding document
should be re-written to incorporate criteria related to the processes of
educating children rather than imposing constraints interpersonal relationships,
important though these requirements are. One needs a reaffirmation of such
qualities as punctuality, a work ethic, wide teaching skills, subject
knowledge, vision, imagination and critical thinking, fiduciary responsibility,
sound administration and much more.
4.
Hold teachers accountable for their performance,
by the re-introduction of inspectors if necessary, by setting targets related
to the mastery of subject knowledge, teaching skills and administrative
procedures. Allow a period of grace during which professional criteria will be
designed, published and implemented, but don’t let it drag on. Many children
have suffered too severely already, and need their place in the sunshine. Focus
resources on those most in need. The process will require courage.
Now retired, I spent forty years in
education. What a special privilege it was! Why do so few now seem to share the
excitement?
Dr Alex Coutts
Retired Deputy Rector, Edgewood College of
Education.
