Today the country will receive the matric 2022 National Department of Basic Education matric results.
There has always been a huge debate about the importance given to these examinations. Some people believe too much emphasis is placed on these results.
Some people believe because of all the disparities in the South African education system, one cannot compare the matric results obtained by the schools attended by the rich with schools attended by the poor.
My stance on this matter comes from my political upbringing. We have always believed that we must fight for the best resources available but at the same time students must be encouraged to give their best.
My experience is that if we do not adopt a positive attitude towards education, we are giving our students an excuse to be mediocre.
I learnt from Dr Victor Ritchie, former principal of Harold Cressy High, Dr Richard Dudley, former deputy-principal of Livingstone High and Mr Christiaan Liebenberg, former principal of Heathfield High, that despite inferior physical facilities at schools, students must always be motivated to do well academically.
A school like South Peninsula High School in Diep River and Livingstone High in Claremont continue to do well despite a lack of facilities. These two schools have continued to raise their standard of education despite the difficulties they face.
It takes years to build schools, especially the schools of the poor who face many problems.
The appointment of wrong individuals to these posts creates serious problems. Once stuck with a mediocre principal, most times this leads to mediocre results. Here the education department will sooner dismiss a principal who challenges them than dismiss a principal who produces poor results.
Teachers in schools of the poor must stand together to see that the physical facilities improve in our schools and fight for introduction of important subjects at schools.
Dr Ritchie made it possible for all the matrics at his school to do maths higher grade. He gave his expertise to the school I taught at for students to do maths higher grade. In the early 2000s, he came to teach maths higher grade at the school where I taught.
In 1999, only 19 out of 200 students did maths higher grade. After three years at the school, 120 out of 200 students were doing maths higher grade. It can de done with the necessary motivation.
I sincerely hope that when the results are made available today we will see the upward trend of results all round.
* Brian Isaacs.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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