I always read your editorials with great interest. They are pithy and very topical.
I recently had an experience with an 11-year-old boy who was given a maths homework project. His mother tried to assist, but her son kept on saying “Mom, I don’t understand”.
I was very fortunate to have had an excellent teacher of maths in my youth – she made the lessons fun to study. She took the time out find ways where maths could be used to solve practical problems, like bringing some wooden planks into the classroom to assemble a box, thereby showing us how angles and lengths fitted together.
There also used to be a programme on the SABC, where they had a male teacher taking all manner of subjects and turning them into fun to learn. This was run on weekends. I am not aware if it still runs, as I no longer watch TV.
I understand that the number of students per class has grown alarmingly over recent years and that our teachers are under extreme pressure to make sure educational deadlines are met, but to reduce the pass rate again! Would any visitor to SA want to consult with a doctor or engineer who only knew 40 per cent or less of what is required to cure or construct? I certainly wouldn’t. Our students will be laughed at if they tried to gain entrance to universities overseas.
Having said all that, what is the solution? Maybe if the outright corruption that is practised by our politicians and businesses could be brought to an end, the monies that are lost through their practices could be used to provide better/ more schools, more innovative teaching practices and instill the love of learning.
Who knows?
