For today I thought I would lighten up and post an old joke that was sent to me. Old, but at times true!
Another post that was sent to me by a fellow blogger is one of many outpourings by the Black South Africans as to the state of the country. They are waking to the fact that things have actually gone backwards since the ANC came to power. The euphoria of Nelson Mandela as the first Black president has worn off and reality has now set in.
Mkhandela is responding to the school book fiasco where some schools have not received their text books even though half the academic year has already passed. The shambles out their is totally beyond belief. One school received 200 books for on grade, while the school has nearly over a 1000 pupils with no books!
The matter of unqualified teachers is a sore point with qualified white teachers that were retrenched sitting at home hoping for a job.
http://www.news24.com/user/Mkhandela
Why Bantu Education was better…
28 June 2012, 14:35
It never rains but pours for South Africa’s Eden, Limpopo. The floods are corroding its education system at a rapid pace. We are halfway through the school calendar and not a single textbook was insight. That is, until today when some parts of the province are reported to be receiving the much needed academic aids.
Some many years ago the African child revolted against a poor education system under apartheid. They envisaged that under democracy their offspring will be served a better, more efficient system minus the shortcomings of what they were subjected to. They perceived that if they watered the tree of freedom with their shed blood the sins of apartheid committed against the black majority would be purged.
It was this generation that hoped that the dawn of democracy will better their livelihoods. Rays of hope sprung to light in 1994 when finally that vision was achieved. Little did they know that the nightmare of apartheid will live to haunt them almost two decades after freedom was attained. Only this time they would not be players but spectators.
The revolutionary generation of ’76 lives to witness a dream betrayed. Having fought for a better education system their efforts were in vain. The democratic government is failing their children.
The current education system is worse compared to Bantu Education. At least under Bantu Education books, regardless of their quality, were on time. Under that deplored system the pass rate for matric, per subject, was not lowered to 30%. If Bantu Education was bad, what about the low literacy and numeracy rates in the current system?
Vanguards of apartheid were brutal in defending the status quo. However, their administration was more efficient than what the current state does. Teachers under apartheid were well trained, carried out their duties conscientiously, and respected the profession. They understood that their role as parents, guardians and role models to their protégés.
Fast forward to democracy, which in fact is demon-crazy, you find a bunch of sex-crazed educators who prey on vulnerable young girls. In exchange for marks they demand sexual favors. They are incompetent and rely on the unions to keep them on the job. Under Bantu Education, the trend we see of so-called “under-qualified” teachers was alien. Systems were in place and were functioning optimally.
At least apartheid was resolute on the kind of education system it preferred. Democracy is still undecided. They have chopped and changed the system more times than I dare to remember. But what I do know is each change has worsened the system. It has punched holes in the future of many young hopefuls who have emerged out of the system worse than the time they were incorporated into it.
Education has the potential to better the lives of people. It is proverbially the key to success. But with the current system in place, it is the key to a bleak and uncertain future. The ANC government has failed us in this regard: Change is needed!!!
paulsmusing2 