The Gauteng Department of Education plans to roll out an initiative to employ retired teachers and principals to address challenges facing underperforming schools.
Addressing a seminar in Midrand, MEC Barbara Creecy said problems in education needed to be urgently addressed.
“It was a major concern that in 15 years of democracy on average 80 percent of pupils had not matriculated in Gauteng,” Barbara Creecy told a packed auditorium of retired teachers.
The MEC said they could not change what had already occurred, but could change the future.
Between 1994 and 2009, of all the grade three pupils in Gauteng tested, less than 30 percent could read and write. Just over 40 percent could do basic maths. Of the pupils in grade six, less than 40 percent were competent in basic maths.
“Just over 50 percent of children are literate after six years of schooling,” she said.
Creecy said the matric pass rate was a yo-yo effect. “We never break through that 80 percent banner.”
With these alarming statistics, MEC Creecy asked retired teachers to help.
“Those willing could volunteer a couple of hours a week or alternatively help out for a few weeks while current teachers received the necessary training on the curriculum”, she said.
While volunteer recruitment was not a quick fix, Creecy said in the interim: “We have to start by asking those before us what they think we must do.”
“This initiative is not determined in any way to jeopardise the teachers already in schools.”
Creecy said teachers would receive intensive curriculum training while retired educators would substitute.
The retirees could also be called in to help educate parents on helping their children do their homework.
“We cannot just say parents must do homework when they do not have the adequate abilities.”
Creecy said the department was in the process of creating training manuals for the retired teachers to help them get abreast of the current curriculum.
The retired teachers would be voluntarily employed at 790 under performing primary schools, as well as some high schools. Subjects most required were linguistics, mathematics, science, accounting and geography.
The Education MEC also said discipline was a problem.
“We are deeply concerned about discipline, but we believe that it is possible to reintroduce discipline without corporal punishment.”
Teachers needed to set an example for young people and parents needed to take greater responsibility for their children.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
12 March 2010
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za/)
