South Africa`s untold story

Source: SA Good News, 06/10/2015

In SA we have some 425 000 teachers, or educators as they are
known.

We have some 30 000 schools, approx. 23 000 primary
and 7 000 secondary. We have 23 universities, of which NINE are ranked
in the top 800/20 000 registered universities globally.


The quality of our primary and secondary education is ranked 142/144
countries in the Global Competitiveness Report published by the World
Economic Forum, the quality of our Maths and Science education is
ranked 144/144 – stone last.


Despite the gloomy stats more learners are writing matric than ever
before and there are twice as many black graduates as there are
white.


In SA there are 100 000 NGO`s, it is estimated that 10 000 devote
their energies exclusively to education. Mostly they are doing a
magnificent job.


They are South Africa`s untold story, AND they are making a
significant difference
As we celebrate Teacher`s Day, we share one such story.


Monday the 5th October marked UNESCO World Teachers Day, the
celebration of teachers internationally. TEACH South Africa took the
theme of Empowering Teachers to Create Sustainable Societies one step
further by developing teaching capacity across the nation.
TEACH recruits Maths, Science, IT and English university graduates to
teach in disadvantaged primary and secondary schools for a two
year-period.


This is particularly relevant to the challenge of mathematics teaching
and the shortage of qualified mathematics and science teachers in the
country, where it was revealed earlier this year that one in four
schools in South Africa does not offer mathematics at a grade 10, 11
and 12 level due to a lack of relevant teachers.


TEACH is deploying maths teachers, especially to more remote areas
where the skill deficit is more acute. This is done in partnership
with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), who supplies teacher
salaries. TEACH is aiming to increase their contribution by assisting
the DBE through the augmented deployment of maths teachers to schools
in need, in January 2016.


Richard Masemola, Co-founder and Executive Director explains, "Not
only does this programme encourage graduates in general into the
teaching profession, we are brining talented, enthusiastic young
recruits to participate in finding greater solutions to education in
South Africa."


Over 50% of TEACH recruits, most of whom do not initially intend to
teach beyond their two-year contract, remain in the teaching
profession. Where possible graduates are encouraged to completion of a
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is facilitated during
their teaching engagement. This provides them with a formal teaching
certification and allows for a smooth transition into their teaching
careers.


Masemola says, "As Teach South Africa we fully support the
implementation of the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development
which aims to end extreme Poverty, fight inequality and injustice and
tackle Climate change by providing quality education to all children.