Some educators from SA’s public schools say that teaching and learning have become an extremely high-pressure exercise, driven by unrealistic targets.“There is a lot of pressure to push the syllabus and get the work done. Every single day you are sending out work, you are making them [learners] do something. I feel sorry for these learners,” said a Grade 10-12 Dramatic Arts educator from Johannesburg who asked to remain anonymous.
“Prolonged closures result in the forgetting of skills acquired before the closure. Depending on how successful the efforts of the schooling system and individual teachers are in catching up lost learning, below-expected Grade 12 outcomes lasting to at least 2022, and possibly as far as 2031, could be experienced,” the brief states.
Kabelo Nthekiso, president of the Progressive Student Movement , a grassroots student organisation, told“Reports on the ground are very concerning, because matrics are not only returning to unsafe schools but some are staying away.” According to the head of communications for the basic education department, Elijah Mhlanga, provinces do not yet have a figure for the number of deregistered pupils. But the public office is well aware of learners not returning to school.We need all stakeholders to assist the department in conveying a message about the importance of going back to school,” he said.
Other key results of the 7,126-sample survey revealed that learner attendance is low. In 29% of schools, more than 35% of learners are absent.The survey says 12% of schools nationally have more than 11% of teachers absent because of comorbidities.