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I was horrified, while listening to Radio 702 recently that apparently 60% of children in Grade 4 in South Africa still cannot read properly. Every one of my children, and that is thanks to my wife’s efforts, has been able to read before they have started Grade 1. That is obviously the benefit of somebody putting in extra time at home in the evenings, but the truth of the matter is children start getting taught how to read in Grade 1 at school and they should all be able to read by the end of Grade 1, and if there are problems, by the end of Grade 2.
When one hears that 60% of children cannot read by the end of Grade 4, in all fairness to the children, it cannot be a reflection on them. It has to be a reflection on the quality of teaching at their schools. It is not possible that I can have a 5 year old, taught by my wife, who can read, but that the average 9 year old in Grade 4 in South Africa still cannot read! Obviously, this does not relate to many of the schools that the children of those reading my blog go to, but it does also show you some of the inequalities in our education, the legacy of the apartheid education system and obviously a Department of Education that is not functioning properly and is not properly run. Quite frankly, just on that basis alone I would fire the Minister of Education.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Wednesday 13-Jul-16
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Comments
Natasha said:
on Tuesday 23-Aug-16 12:13 PM
These days every second person w3ants to be a teacher because they get 4 holidays and then they don't even know how to teach and to think we have to put our kids in schools someday and the teacher wont even be able to teach them
tersia said:
on Tuesday 23-Aug-16 07:53 AM
And that is so weird to me as most people I know study to become a teacher - so it seems that there are so many of them and yet they cannot teach. I think most teacher are lazy today. They don't want to give that extra attention to a student who is maybe a little to slow or to a child that is a little to hyper. Parents should also pay more attention to their children as it always actually start from home.
Sinead said:
on Wednesday 20-Jul-16 09:08 AM
Wow! What is our country coming to?? I remember reading those Jane books in Grade 1.
My mom always encouraged us to read Enid Blyton books and we did. I was more into Goosebumps by the time I got to Grade 3 and 4. We actually even had lessons in primary school called "Library" and we had to take books home to read every 2 weeks.
What happened to those reviews on books they did in primary school: Hooked on Books? They would have a play describing what the book is about and leave us wanting more. Do they still do those reviews?
The education these days is absolutely shocking!!! And then they're supposed to matriculate and get jobs? I thought it couldn't get any worse than it is now...
Cornelie said:
on Friday 15-Jul-16 04:30 PM
This is so scary that's why it is so important as a parent to put extra effort in on a weekend through the busy life we are having to read to your children and to make time for them to read back to you.
Catherine said:
on Friday 15-Jul-16 04:17 PM
The state of education in this country is absolutely shocking. Whenever there is a strike, they instead burn down schools, libraries etc and these are the facilities that are crucial for education not realizing that at the end of the day, it affects the scholars and the next thing, there is no money to build the schools again. This as a result affects the quality of education hence children as old as 9 years are not able to read.
Liesl said:
on Friday 15-Jul-16 04:07 PM
The education system in our country has been a big concern for quite some time now. I thought that my stress regarding school is something of the past now I have to face the challenges all over again with my Nephew living with me now. Seriously stressed about the future of our schools. All the schools are jam packed and the good ones are getting more difficult to get in.
Jessica M said:
on Friday 15-Jul-16 01:05 PM
I think this is very sad actually. With my sons I have decided when they go to big school I will ask them to read to me everyday till the end of the month, then I will get them something they really wanted or want. It's very important to motivate your children and help them achieve their goals. For me I can't wait for the day my boys become successful so that I can feel complete.
Helen said:
on Friday 15-Jul-16 09:42 AM
I completely agree to fire the Minister of Education and all teachers must be send back to university to complete their degree. From my own experience teachers are not educated themselves to teach our kids today and I am worried about my kids as well. I have to spend my time and money for extra lessons for my kids to make sure when they will even go to my country one day they will be able to join other school and not to miss out on grade!
Helen said:
on Friday 15-Jul-16 09:39 AM
I completely agree to fire the Minister of Education and all teachers must be send back to university to complete their degree. From my own experience teachers are not educated themselves to teach our kids today and I am worried about my kids as well. I have to spend my time and money for extra lessons for my kids to make sure when they will even go to my country one day they will be able to join other school and not to miss out on grade!
Melissa P said:
on Thursday 14-Jul-16 03:53 PM
This is a very big concern as these children are the future of South Africa. I believe the reason for this is because of the huge language barriers and that most of these children only learn to speak English when they go to school. The parents are also to blame as this is suppose to start at home. Once again the parents probably also don't have the education to lead their children in the right direction. It's very concerning but mostly sad.
Jolene said:
on Thursday 14-Jul-16 02:41 PM
This is very concerning! These children are the future of SA, but then again, its not very surprising as our current president doesnt even have matric. Education is key!
Nikita said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 05:00 PM
I think it has a lot to do with the language barriers we are challenged with in South Africa. Most school children are speaking a completely different mother tongue at home and then only hear English for the first time when they go to school.
daria said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 05:00 PM
The education system in South Africa has always been shocking, teachers themselves don't have the proper education and now they must go teach the youth of today? something needs to be done to bring a better education system to our county as soon as possible s the youth of today are our future leaders.
Melissa said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 04:56 PM
The education in SA is pathetic, it needs to upgrade a lot. A change needs to be made in order to improve the literacy skills.
charlotte said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 01:45 PM
It is shocking that some Grade 4's cannot read. My boy is Grade 3 now, and the teacher is putting a lot of energy and time in to give them extra reading material that they need to take home and read to us in order to develop their reading skills. Next year, when he is in Grade 4, he is going to start writing exams. Imagine those who cannot read in Grade 4 doing exams! How on earth would they be able to understand the question, let alone give the answer!
Tamaryn said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 12:59 PM
It is a travesty that our government has let down the youth of this country so badly when it comes to a good education. Surely a decent education goes a long way to creating the equality the government so wishes to achieve. It all starts with education and this should be the number one priority for children. All children.
Chanika said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 10:54 AM
I personally think that the problem comes down to two sides. Firstly parents must spend time with their children to see if the child function at the level as he/she should. And also parents moving houses or moving from town to town every year. It's physically impossible for a child to perform well at school when there is no stability. Secondly there is definitely a lack in the standard of our education.
Prishani said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 10:25 AM
This truly breaks my heart, because as mentioned this is not at all the fault of these children however they are the ones who will have to suffer the consequences in the future. It is definitely a huge injustice, because these children are the future, this certainly shows that our education departments priorities are not at all in the right place. Surely we should be investing more in these little lives who are the future of this country, surely we should be empowering them with the best weapon of all and that is an adequate education and the ability to read at the very least! This blog is very useful as most of the general public are not aware of these statistics and this is one way to bring this to their attention!
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 09:45 AM
This is shocking news and actually a bit unbelievable. I use to think my dad was so annoying when I was younger making me read over and over every night. If I got one word wrong I would have to start over. I always wanted to read with my mom because she wasn't as strict - now I see it's possibly because she worked longer hours. Parents play a vital role in something like learning how to read. Parents pay alot of money for children to be schooled and taught however at the same time they cannot just accept that the teachers are teaching their children and should rather intervene and also make it an important task to teach their children to read.
I completely agree that the Minister of Education needs to step up or get fired!
Suzanne said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 09:10 AM
This is absolutely shocking. We need to make a change and fast! Although my son is still very young, I teach him that books are great and try and read to him as often as I can. I know at his pre-primary school they have a mini library where we can pick a new book each week and it is a very important part of their daily routine to read each morning. I personally think it is both the job of the school plus the parent to focus on this. Easier said than done with the state of our education system and many parents having to work long hours and have to rely on public transport to get them from work to home etc.
Lucretia said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 09:04 AM
The problem with many of our schools is, children are pushed through to another grade regardless of their readiness. My niece is a grade one teacher and she had the very same argument with the principal not so long ago. The parents also have to come to the party, many of them don't but they are the first to complain when you call them in to discuss holding their child back. It's a crying shame.
Nina said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 08:57 AM
I agree with Johann that unfortunately most of the parents of the children that cannot read, are also uneducated and struggle to read themselves. This is very sad because it affects the child's education negatively in a way. One can only hope that in the future our entire education system will change for the better.
Angelique P said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 08:57 AM
Todays new teachers think its a joke. They are tjommie tjommie with the children and not teaching them.
They are only there because its something easy and quick to study and dont forget the nice holidays.
Its really sad if you get a teacher that does not worry about you and then you get behind and then you are in trouble the following years.
This is really becoming a big problem in schools.
We need teacher thats really serious about teaching and not just waiting for the next paycheck.
Mathilda said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 08:52 AM
Wow this is shocking and actually so sad, the poor child goes to school to learn and then the teacher is incompetent and their parents thinks well the teacher is teaching their children so they do not have to, meanwhile back at the ranch this poor child is getting a huge backtrack in his/her education because no one is giving them the attention they deserve...
And also parents should start paying more attention to their children making sure they are "up to date" for their age group...
Im actually scared to have children while still living in South Africa because imagen just how much worse the education will be when I have children
Bianca said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 08:47 AM
This is completely concerning and is a reflection of how parents have not taken an interest to teach their children how to read. As parents, you have to lay the ground work and take time to teach your children the basics before they enter into Grade 1 or possibly even before they go to crèche. The earlier the better and it can only benefit to child to be able to read from any early age. A child I know of was not sent to crèche and rather stayed home with a nanny until Grade 1 and he struggled immensely to keep up with the other children that were able to already read and write to a certain extent when they entered into Grade 1. At the end of the day, your child is your investment and you should invest time into teaching them the essentials.
Latoya said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 08:42 AM
I agree with Sarah, Kids of today just want to play games and watch TV which is very wrong,and that can cause a lot of disturbing when it comes to school work. Learning does start at home, Take time and sit with your child for at least 30 Minutes as Clare does, It does help a lot and will make your children learn a lot quicker. I randomly say the A B C and count from 1 to 10 at home and my son listens and also copies me, Children are very observant and listen to everything around done and said around them. My son is not a TV fan at all which I'm happy with but sometimes wish he could sit down and watch cause his too busy running the house down screaming and singing lol.
Brenda van den Bergh said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 08:42 AM
This comes as no surprise considerting the amount of unqualified or underqualified teachers we have teaching in government schools. It was reported that we have over 7000 unqualifed teachers over 2000 under qualified teachers teaching the next generation of our country?
How does South Africa plan a "bright" future when our youth are not being taught correctly. If a grade 4 student cannot read yet, South Africa is in serious trouble in the future.
Johann said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 08:37 AM
I wonder how many parents of those children also can't read? It would be impossible for them to teach their children to read, before they start grade 1, if they can't read a word themselves.
Sarah said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 07:39 AM
David has a good point but also today education is not the same as it was. When I stay in American for a year we had projects that forced us to read books. It seems like today teachers just dont put effort in anymore. Kids today just want to play games on the computer or PS, even watch a lot of TV.
Alexis said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 07:37 AM
It is a shame that the education in this country is at an all time low. That should be one of our main concerns. Second it is up to the parents, people have kids and do not care, do not do what they are suppose to do and go along making it another's problem
david said:
on Wednesday 13-Jul-16 07:19 AM
i think, as you point out, the problem is that parents don't put in enough effort...
that said, it's easier to put in effort if you are not spending many hours of the day commuting.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
