Photographer: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
THE National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) and the KwaZulu-Natal Parents Association (KZNPA) has urged the education authorities to address pressing challenges in the education system.
Reflecting on the academic year as it draws to a close and the matric class of 2024 begins their exams , the NASGB and KZNPA listed infrastructure issues, budget constraints, and unforeseen natural disasters that might have resulted in some pupils being ill-prepared.
The chairperson of the KZN Parents Association, Vee Gani, while acknowledging that some pupils might be adequately prepared, he was concerned about the broader implications of this year's challenges.
“I would think that not all children are ready,” Gani said, outlining how budget cuts and infrastructural setbacks have hindered the educational experience.
He recounted visits to schools grappling with challenges, such as one damaged by a tornado, and others lacking basic amenities like electricity.
“The children are in darkness in the school,” he said.
Gani emphasised that the disparity among schools created an uneven playing field for pupils, with those equipped with resources likely to fare better in their exams than those in disadvantaged situations.
“In some schools, the situation and resources are so low that I don't think those pupils are going to be ready,” he added, raising further concern about teacher shortages impacting learning in the classroom.
“You can't expect children to excel when the conditions in which they operate are bad,” Gani said, urging parents and teachers to collaborate for the benefit of the pupils.
Despite the challenges, Gani acknowledged the hard work of teachers and the effectiveness of intervention classes. “My heart goes out to those schools where there are challenges yet they are still expected to produce results,” he said.
Gani encouraged matric pupils to keep their focus, saying the exams was a temporary hurdle on the road to their future aspirations.
Matakanye Matakanye, the general secretary of NASGB, was cautiously optimistic.
Matakanye highlighted the urgent need for the Department of Education and local government to ensure all necessary resources were accessible and that learning environments were conducive for pupils to perform their best.
“There is a school in KZN that was devastated by a storm and, up to now, the pupils do not have a proper place to learn. Instead, those children were relocated to different venues,” said Matakanye.
Matakanye and Gani have commended teachers for their commitment during the recent strikes, expressing hope for stability until the exams commence.
He called for parents to bolster their children's study environment, urging everyone involved in the educational journey to maintain a united front.