What Next After the Past for the Future - SA Matrics 2015

Tuesday 5th January 2016 I was glued to my TV as #MatricResults2015 were announced. A slim boy like me during my good day Hamadziripi Matiba from Limpopo was amassing Top Achiever awards. Sadly Limpopo was second from bottom overall.

Because Hamadziripi is a Shona name popular in Zimbabwe. Most Zimbabweans in South Africa and at home thought he was one of theirs. Alas the boy is from Sibasa, Venda in Limpopo. We now embrace same names and am tempted to change my daughter's name from Rejoice to Refiloe.

My mind had questions
1. What next for these matric graduates?
2. Will they get enrolled at University?
3. Is degree the only route to success?
4. What other untapped talents are within the failed students which the Education system failed to tape out?
5. What will have happened if every subject pass mark was 50% not the 30% or 33% as reported in some Medias? A 50% pass mark in every subject might have all of us crying and mourning for change.

"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts" as C.S. Lewis said.

Teacher Trainings

South Africa has a wonderful education system and good budgets compared to SADC countries. In Zimbabwe my brothers still use the textbook I bought in the early 1990s. In South Africa within 5 years one gets something new and assurance of top ups and replacements every year. In that case a pass of 50% is possible but the challenge is still on teachers. We have more grade 1s each year over 1,2million but very few new teachers joining the grade 1 teaching troops. By now South Africa should be having over 50 teacher training colleges offering 3 year diplomas as done say in Zimbabwe. Image South Africa relying on Zimbabwe economic refugee teachers for Maths and Science in the remote areas. We know qualified and experienced teachers do not like remote areas. Then we send either temporary teachers or our brothers and sisters qualified from economic falling nations like Zimbabwe. Universities should have more teaching degrees with BAs or BSCs majoring in specific subjects.

Infrastructure

Learning under trees in 2015? Yes pay a visit to Eastern Cape and Limpopo. The government is trying but we need the help of corporate in infrastructure developments. Building classrooms and toilets as donations or social responsibility. Its commendable that the government is doing its best regardless of growing numbers of schools intakes year in year out. I challenge some rich people who donate for programmes with zero human control instead of donating toward education. Education is the only country investment which returns are obviously high.

Matric not only way

Schools should be challenged to tape hidden talents within learners. Sport and music are growing industries worldwide. Most Colleges of Music are private or so few that a poor kid from Limpopo can hardly have access. Let these be natured from as early as Grade 3. Sports academy in every district to nature soccer players; athletics etc. That's our dream to have learners identify their passions rather than forcing all to go via academic route. At times high academic nations breed failures the case of Zimbabwe and its high education and failing economy rolling on blame games without taking responsibility and accountability.

I agree with Via Afrika Publishers CEO, Christine Watson when she said"Baker, bicycle repairer, tattoo artist - these are some of the career opportunities available for the next generation of matrics not planning on going to university. Matric is not everything. Years ago, the thing was if you had a matric, you were guaranteed a job, but this is not the case anymore. People studied further and further in the hopes of improving their chances of being employed, and then found themselves unable to get a job. We must get away from this 'get through matric' mindset "

In this age of technology more can be done to get our new generation focused in areas they have passion and ability and talent.

Call for Corporate

Thanks to all Corporate offering bursaries to learners going to Universities. However more can be done that benefits majority. On 6th January 2016 at 930am I was watching SABCTV Channel 404 and saw fantastic Digital Education Centres in remote areas set up by Via Afrika. If 1000 corporate get each a Digital Education Centre for our remote rural schools imagine what will that do to the future matric results and learners?? Brilliant ideas and programmes are out there but only need our political and economic leaders to offer a hand and get them rolling. If your organisation spares say R1million to develop one school of choice would that not make South Africa the bright star which we wish for in future?

The only constants in change development are changes of mind sets and do one thing different from the usual. Imagine a Soccer team winning R7million prize money and dedicating all to building classrooms or teachers' houses in districts where players come from??     That's a shift of mind set. Imagine celebrities having each a Digital Education Centre in their rural districts than spending money on expensive wheels? That's a shift of mind set!!!

Rufaz Marufu Mavhure- Is a Key Account Manager in Educational Sector Player: Email: marufumavure@yahoo.com  Twitter: @Mavhure