No compromise of education standards

Professional education being the cornerstone of a prosperous future for South Africa in an ever increasing competitive global market, the ongoing floundering and mismanagement in the sector is heartbreaking to say the least.

The setting of benchmarks for pass rates is the latest hot topic, which frankly boggles the mind.

In an effort to improve the quality of education in the public school system, the Department of Basic Education this year decided to raise the standards required to pass Grades 7, 8 and 9.

In view of the folly of lowering standards in previous years to artificially bump up pass rates, this sensible strategy deserved to be applauded.

But now, according to reports, it seems that this strategy presents new challenges, prompting knee-jerk remedies which, if implemented, will simply take us back to a situation of ridiculousness.

Realising that the raising of the pass rates has put many pupils at risk of failing, the department has apparently instructed schools across the country to simply adjust pupils’ scores by awarding extra marks.

A better example of an ill conceived quick fix solution would be hard to find.

Naturally the department qualifies this decision with all kinds of explanations, such as ‘curriculum changes causing instability’ and it would therefore ‘be unfair to the 2014 learners to bear the brunt of systemic changes’, as well as a ‘need to manage the transition and the possible depressed learner performance’.

Our problem with this kind of approach is the principle of the matter.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the ‘higher’ standards (and they are only higher because they were lowered).

It is not out of reach for your average student, but instead of challenging the teaching corps and pupils to work harder to reach the goals – an extremely valuable life’s lesson – we opt to take the easy way out, again reverting to handing out ‘achievements’ on a plate.

The department now says the handing out of marks is simply speculation at this stage and it is merely looking at possible corrective ‘alternatives’.

What alternatives?

Educationists can argue all they want, but the bottom line is that compromising on standards will be detrimental to the pupils and the future of the country.

The market out their is ruthless and pupils coming through a flawed system will eventually be exposed and spat out.

This is too high a price to pay to manipulate paper statistics for political expediency.