To fail or to insufficiently achieve, that is the question
Education officials are debating the negative impact the word 'fail' might have on learners
TOP of the agenda within education circles is a debate around the word ‘fail’ and its impact on learners who fail to meet pass marks.
According to Higher Education and Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande, the word ‘fail’ may be ‘too strong’.
‘I have spoken to the Department of Basic Education about this and think it’s an issue for us in the education sector to perhaps engage educational psychologists to deal with, so we don’t discourage our young people,’ he said on Thursday.
This stems from comments by Professor Kobus Maree of the department of educational psychology at the University of Pretoria, who said the word ‘fail’ had no place in current society.
Speaking ahead of the release of the matric results, the professor said the term ‘insufficient achievement’ was more appropriate.
He said while the marks obtained in the final matric exams determined the university to which a learner could be admitted, they do not determine whether or not one will be successful in life.
Agreeing with the notion, Nzimande said the word gave the wrong impression, and that other factors could be involved in a student falling behind.
‘A student may fail because there was a tragedy,’ he said.
‘Some students didn’t have a maths or an English teacher for one reason or another.’
He said this was one of the reasons the students were encouraged to explore other opportunities within the education sector.
‘It’s important that we do not discourage students who do not make it,’ said Nzimande.
The minister was in consultations on the matter with the relevant authorities and stakeholders.
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