The document provides an overview of the state of education in South Africa and challenges facing the country, with some proposed solutions. It discusses low performance on international tests, high dropout rates, and disparities between school types. Potential causes mentioned include lack of teacher development, dysfunctional school management, and untruths such as overemphasis on resources over quality. The presentation proposes steps to improve education quality, including increasing teacher professionalism, establishing student-teacher connections, and implementing student accountability measures. It aims to raise awareness of educational issues and provide examples of school turnarounds.

1. TeachSA!
The state of education in South
Africa and the challenges
facing our country … with some
solutions.
Presenter:
Dr Muavia Gallie (PhD)
4 December 2012
muavia@mweb.co.za
http://muavia-gallie.blogspot.com
http://supervisingwithadifference.blogspot.com 1
www.slideshare.net
Content
1. Awareness: We don’t know what we don’t know
(3-13);
2. SA Education System – Performance (14-36);
3. Quality Education & Untruths (37-39);
4. Supportive Ideas (40-44);
5. Some Turnaround examples (45-52)
6. Conclusion (53-55).
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Search TeachSA 2012 2
1

2. Awareness Test
Do we Know
what we Don’t
Know 3
TIMSS Participation Countries
2007
4
2

3. TIMSS 2003 - Applying
Maths
5
SACMEQ Countries
Botswana
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Seychelles
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Pupil
Uganda
reading
Zambia sco re s
Zanzibar
Zimbabwe
Source: SACMEQ Data, 2007
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3

4. 6 SACMEQ Results
6 7 6
2 5 2 2
12 13 11 12
15 15 13 14
4 3 1 1
7 12 4 11
13 9 14 13
1 2 3 4
9 10 9 8
5 4 6 5
3 1 5 3
10 11 8 9
14 14 12 15
11 7 10 10
8 8 15 7
7
8
4

5. 9
Reason for Leaving Education
10
5

6. Corporal Punishment
11
Teacher Age Groups
12
6

7. 13
14
7

8. 15
16
8

9. 17
18
9

10. 19
20
10

11. 21
22
11

12. 23
24
12

13. 25
26
13

14. 27
28
14

15. 29
30
15

16. 31
Comparing Grades 1-12 from 1999 to 2012
1 350 000
1 300 000
1 250 000 1999
1 200 000 2000
1 150 000 2001
1 100 000 2002
1 050 000 2003
1 000 000
2004
950 000
2005
900 000
2006
850 000
800 000 2007
750 000 2008
700 000 2009
650 000 2010
600 000 2011
550 000
2012
500 000
Ave.
450 000
Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade
400 000 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 32
16

17. Gap Gap
Comparing Grades 1-12 from 1999 to 2012 Now %Learner Trace %Learner
Gr1 &
Year Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 12 Retained Years Years
1999 1,318,932 1,223,529 1,194,425 1,167,683 1,087,829 998,705 937,741 1,043,067 917,239 840,803 738,220 571,848 747,084 43%
2000 1,055,397 1,090,765 1,178,712 1,167,949 1,088,836 1,009,782 936,454 1,039,547 922,566 836,962 724,192 549,203 506,194 52%
2001 1,150,637 944,961 1,087,675 1,175,860 1,098,863 1,023,269 932,151 1,068,479 916,280 846,655 709,508 488,352 662,285 42%
2002 1,286,591 1,012,892 949,721 1,076,107 1,142,806 1,038,679 958,932 936,392 1,089,404 876,175 719,952 486,786 799,805 38% 430,453 53%
2003 1,277,499 1,111,858 1,003,331 952,465 1,035,707 1,101,740 987,876 976,750 902,129 1,096,214 736,720 475,069 802,430 37% 567,998 46%
2004 1,303,016 1,109,201 1,081,956 985,139 916,911 997,365 1,050,554 1,010,710 914,729 1,057,935 829,137 505,392 797,624 39% 432,349 54%
2005 1,233,581 1,118,690 1,078,001 1,061,770 951,372 898,493 972,542 1,052,499 930,797 1,069,494 839,009 538,909 694,672 44% 459,796 54%
2006 1,185,198 1,081,652 1,099,319 1,072,780 1,026,031 919,487 872,051 1,020,734 970,946 1,093,297 890,564 568,664 616,534 48% 519,165 52%
2007 1,171,323 1,050,103 1,066,796 1,090,762 1,035,449 1,001,687 896,138 930,019 957,450 1,115,961 920,102 625,809 545,514 53% 462,020 54%
2008 1,122,114 1,031,821 1,017,656 1,050,860 1,043,012 1,001,852 964,345 926,603 902,656 1,076,527 902,752 595,216 526,898 53% 599,209 50%
2009 1,106,827 1,004,311 1,004,585 1,019,886 1,009,370 1,012,619 970,902 991,093 926,531 1,017,341 881,661 602,278 504,549 54% 621,251 49%
2010 1,116,899 994,410 972,668 1,002,645 978,983 978,016 980,747 1,001,180 1,009,327 1,039,762 841,815 579,384 537,515 52% 739,548 44%
2011 1,177,089 1,003,353 957,209 974,860 957,203 946,427 941,291 1,008,110 1,049,904 1,049,189 847,738 534,498 642,591 45% 520,899 51%
2012 1,208,973 1,074,788 967,373 966,349 939,025 935,446 912,528 971,509 1,096,113 1,103,495 874,331 551,837 657,136 46% 598,800 48%
Ave. 1,194,001 1,064,516 1,061,237 1,068,659 1,034,597 998,475 955,036 999,756 946,671 997,261 811,136 548,909 Diff Trace
33
Success rate = 8,1%
• Success-rate of the system = 8,1%
• Of every 12 learners starting Grade
One, only 1 learner attains what the
system is promising them - data 2005!
34
17

18. Access vs Success
Short-Listing
Employment
Quantity
Quality
Whether you Pass! How you Pass!
35
% Different Types of schools in SA
Quality of Pass (Grades)
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Quantity of Pass
50%
40% 20%
30%
20% 50%
10%
0% 20%
-10%
-20% 10%
Anti- Dysfunctional Under- High-
36
Functional Performing Performing
18

19. Japp
37
Three Steps to Quality Education
Dys- Step Under- Step High Step Excellent
1 2 3
functional performing Functioning Schools
Schools Schools Schools
Basic Right To Basic Education Quality Education
Education
Legal and Human Rights Professional, Social, and
Obligations Ethical Obligations 38
19

20. Some Untruths in Education
1. Democratic decision making in the education system creates a
conducive tone and culture;
2. Parent involvement is crucial;
3. Resources (computers and libraries) will make all the difference;
4. The department is not supporting teachers and therefore they are
demotivated;
5. Lack of learning is caused by the ill-discipline of learners;
6. Our classrooms are overcrowded – small classes will make the
difference;
7. It is difficult to achieve learner success in poverty stricken
communities;
8. Learners are not at the level they should be when they get to our
school/class;
9. Teacher development will solve most of our performance
problems;
39
10. It is the unions!
Confusing Teaching for Learning
Teaching Facilitation of Learning Learning
(the Teacher) (teacher and learner) (the learner)
Facts and Know-how building Comprehension and
Information Wisdom
sharing development
Audifying of Engaging in the process What do you know
Textbook of learning in order to and understand,
ensure ownership of the and not just what do
knowledge you remember
Characteristics Investigate the opinions of Discuss the
of a good citizen others (including yourself) characteristics of a
on the topic good citizen, with
justification
Assessment of Assessment for Learning Assessment of
Teaching Learning 40
20

21. Connected vs Disconnectedness
from Learners I see, know,
understand
and care
about them!
I see, know
and
understand
them!
I see and
know them!
I see them!
41
42
21

22. Know your Numbers
• 200 School days;
• 170 Teaching and Learning days;
• 34 Weeks of Teaching and
Learning;
• 935 Hours of Teaching and
Learning;
• 20 – 24 Hours of Examination time;
• Account for 1800 hours of work. 43
Labour vs Professional
44
22

23. Professionalism
• Specialised Knowledge (a strong body of specialised
knowledge);
• Continued Research (propensity to evaluate current
practice and identify and substitute redundant practice);
• Professional Authority of the Practitioner (trust placed by
society as result of high quality of service rendered);
• Acknowledgement of Authority by Society (respect and
esteem from the society);
• Developing and Maintaining a Professional Ethical Code
(disciplined use of oneself in valid knowledge and insight into
self-control pertaining to use of one’s emotions);
• Service Orientation (render a service where the interest of
the client came first).
45
Domains of Challenges
3.
Curriculum
(Learners, Parents, Educators,
Community, Business, District,
Management
(School Readiness)
(Taking Responsibility)
Framework
Sustainability Strategy
SMT, Principal, SGB,
(Education, Curriculum,
Ownership
Planning
Instruction, Teaching,
Province)
Learning, Assessment,
Expectations)
Educator BEAR
(Beliefs, Expectations,
Attitudes & Relationships
46
1. 2. 4. 5.
23

24. Student Expectation and Achievement agreement
(1)
Student Expectation and Achievement agreement
(2)
24

25. 50
25

26. Student Feedback Sheet
Current Conversations …
• We are making progress …; We are getting
better …; We are getting things under
control …; It is the union! (Education
Officials);
• My principal is on his way from a meeting
… (always between district and school)
(Principals of Schools);
• Always blaming the department, the
principal, parents, children, resources, etc.
(Teachers); 52
26

27. 53
54
27

28. Thank
You!! 55
28