An overview of education in South Africa

1. Diversity in Education: An overview of education in South Africa Robert Calbeck & David Montecucco EDSE 501 – Psychology of the Exceptional Child

2. To understand the attitude toward children when it comes to education in South Africa today we must first study the history of the persecution of the black people until 1990. Apartheid (ap-ar-taet) is the policy and the system of laws implemented and enforced by "White" minority governments in South Africa from 1948 till 1990; and by extension any legally sanctioned system of racial segregation. Dictionary.com, 2010

3. Nelson Mandela was an attorney, received his law degree just before the Apartheid regime took control. He receiving his law degree in the late 30’s. Then became an activist against the apartheid political machine that was taking over the country. southafrica.info, 2008

4. Bantu Education Act of 1953 which was in effect until 1990 • There is no place for the African in the European community above the level of certain forms of labor • White South African children received a quality schooling virtually for free • Teacher: pupil ratios: • 1:18 in white schools • 1:39 in black schools • 96% of teachers in white schools were certified • 15% of teachers in black schools were certified southafrica.info, 2008

5. Nelson Mandela: • 1990 released fromprison • 1990-1994 spent negotiating peace between the black population & the government 1994 Mandela becomes President • Immediate plan set forth to educate the masses • Create health care for the Bantu population southafrica.info, 2008

6. Mandela is committed to developing a rigorous academic environment • We believe all students, given adequate time, effort, discipline and support, will be able to graduate ready to enter college or fulfill other goals fully prepared for the academic work required • Mandela set forth the following decree: Our school theme, Bridging Multiple Worlds, uses the lens of multiculturalism and social justice as we prepare students academically to be literate in their native language and in a second language. • focuses on community and family collaboration southafrica.info, 2008

7. 1994 South Africa Demographics southafrica.info, 2008

8. 1994 South Africa Demographics percentages Age range southafrica.info, 2008 Wikipedia, 2007

9. 1994 South Africa Demographics southafrica.info, 2008

10. Official Language Breakdown, 1994 southafrica.info, 2008

11. Aids Health Care Crisis: • 5 million people infected with HIV • 31% of pregnant women are infected with HIV • 20% of people under 20 years of age are infected with HIV • 3.5 million orphans as of 2005 • *** 18.1% of children under 2 yrs of age are infected as of 2009!!! Wikipedia, 2009

12. Literacy: • Defined as 15 year olds who can read & write • 86.4% as of 2008*** • 10% of students fail to pass 9th grade • 40% of students fail to pass 12th grade • Government support: • 20% of budget spent on education • 15% of budget spent on health care southafrica.info, 2008

13. Wikipedia, 2008 southafrica.info, 2008

14. 3 bands of education • General education & training, age 7 to 15, emphasis on: read, write, calculate. • Further education & training, age 15 to 18, emphasis on: proficiency in general subjects and second language • High education and training, age 19 to 25, similar to colleges world wide southafrica.info, 2008

15. Interesting foundations set up during the late 90’s • 26000 formal schools total….including all levels of education • 400 special needs schools • 60 pilot schools were established by 1998 (2 in each of the 30 regions) which were based in ‘full service’ education featuring specially trained teachers who were based in the local culture and circumstances. The emphasis was on diverse education. • specialized services and support in rural and previously disadvantaged areas, to gain access to education • Early Childhood Development ECD is a comprehensive approach to programs and policies for children from birth to nine years of age with the active participation of their parents and caregivers • Its purpose is to protect the rights of children to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential southafrica.info, 2008

16. Certain educational concepts were emphasized over and over • Human rights @ 4 different grade levels • civilizations, apartheid, Us Civil war, slavery of different centuries • Health & Welfare • Sex education ( 2 levels), society and fellow humans • Democracy @ 4 different grade levels • Equality, freedoms, education, imperialism, fall of USSR southafrica.info, 2008

17. Democracy in the Classroom Project was launched in August 2003, in conjunction with United States’ Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) Outcome of this program was to recognize barriers in education: autism behavioral problems visual impairment tuberculosis children in conflict with the law physical disability neurological and specific learning disabilities Multi-disability intellectual disability hearing impairment communication disorders epilepsy over-aged learners. Wikipedia, 2010

18. Special Education is done at the totally inclusive pilot schools (1 reason there are 2 such schools in each region) as well as the over 400 special needs schools. • Teachers and Case workers: • Immediately they sought out people from each region to become teachers and social workers because they new both the language as well as the culture of the region • Establish systems to handle the orphan problem, which meant to get them in school as well as develop a system for psychological help. • 2004 – the emphasis switched to administrative help and principles • 366,000 educators were trained and put in place by 2004. • This was done in conjunction with the United states Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Kingdoms Department for International Development (DFID) Wikipedia, 2010

19. Conclusion - South Africa is a fledgling education system Which seems to have initiated some great ideas: • Parent involvement is high • All children are given an education • Education to the 9th grade is held in high regard • Regulation of curriculum is in the ‘regional’ level, while funding is supported at the national level • Special education is a high priority since 2003 • Special attention to ‘orphans’ • Seek help from outside, US & UK • Social/cultural issues take priority southafrica.info, 2008

20. Apartheid. (2006). In Word IQ. Online. http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Apartheid • BBC study in south Africa. (2003). In BBC.UK.study in world historyOnlinehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/andrewharding/2010/07/south_african_education_return.html • Demography of the United States. (2007). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from Wikipedia Online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States • Education in South Africa(2010). Tourism of South Africa, Online. http://www.southafrica.info/ • Education in South Africa. (2008). Unesco Institute for statistics Online. http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=7100 • South Africa. (2007). In Wikipedia. Online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South%20Africa?redirect=no • South Africa Classroom. (2002). In South Africa History Online. http://www.sahistory.org.za/classroom/index.htm • South Africa Classroom. (2008). In South Africa History Online. http://www.sahistory.org.za/classroom/grade4/grade4.htm