National Senior Certificate results- A closer look

Recently, the Department of Education released a report on the National Senior Certificate Examination results of 2009. Two days ago thousands of matric students sat down for the first of their final exam papers ready to become part of the 2010 statistics with everyone hoping for better performance across the board this year.

The department’s report, interesting and filled with statistics as it is, leaves us with more questions than answers. After studying the results, all I know is the order in which our provinces performed, and this was published earlier this year already, with the Western Cape coming out ahead of the rest and Mpumalanga being last on the list.

Province                          Pass Rate

Western Cape                                        75%

Gauteng                                                 72%

Free State                                              69%

North West                                            68%

Northern Cape                                        61%

Kwa-Zulu Natal                                     61%

Eastern Cape                                         51%

Limpopo                                                49%

Mpumalanga                                          48%

Nowhere do they unpack the quality of the passes. And that is what really matters.

Using this information the Sunday Times published a list of SA's "Top performing schools" in last Sunday’s paper. These are the schools with 100% to 97% pass rate. No distinction was made about how the pass rate was obtained. , those with lower, standard and higher grade students who excelled and those who met the minimum pass mark. The figures in the report have focus on Quintiles rather than performance. 

We have to encourage excellence in our schools and should no longer compare a school A’s 100% pass rate achieved because the school’s  21 students all passed with the minimum requirements with school B’s result of 99% where 1 of the 97 students failed but 88 received  no less than two distinctions.  In the numbers game School A has a 100% pass rate while school B has a 99% pass rate. Here the numbers do not count.

We need to focus on the quality of our education and measure this accordingly. Our high school graduates should be congratulated not only for passing but rather for passing well. Acknowledge the schools that do well in terms of quality passes and offer encouragement and support to those who are struggling to achieve more than the minimum.

Look deeper into the numbers and read between the lines. 

Report available [O]:

www.timeslive.co.za/matric2010/article724205.ece/Schools-Report

Creating more than an intsitutionalised identity in our schools

Sunday Times published an article on how more and more parents are putting their faith in low fee private schools to provide the type of schooling they desire and demand for their children but what is it that makes private schools more desirable than public schools?

Research conducted by the Centre for Development and Enterprise shows that many of the parents sending their children to low-fee private schools were themselves public school teachers. How are we as parents supposed to believe in the public school system when those in the public school system do not believe in the work they do.

If one were to take the doors away, it would still be a school even without windows and walls it would still be a school. There was a time when people went to school in an open field and attended class under a tree even that did not take away from the fact that they were going to school. Yes better resources make school easier and perhaps bearable but results come from each and every individual. It is the people within the confounds of the schooling system that create a winning school.

One cannot leave it to the schools to detest laziness, absenteeism,late coming, profane language, lying and "chewing chappies". The environment may make a difference in the way one perceives a school and the quality of education therein but a motivated individual who wants to see a brighter future for our children has the power to change perceptions.

As parents we need to understand the value of education and lead by example, We cannot encourage children to read when we don't pick up a newspaper or a pamphlet from time to time. Education is a team effort. Parents support to the best of their ability, Teachers coach the team and prepares them for finals and it is the children who carry the flag and play as hard as they can to ensure victory. Not every champion has to train on solid ground. It is when we are shaken that we learn to stand strong.

Private or public, a school should generate results and we should expect only the best!

"Where angels go to school..."

Last week I received an e-mail from a woman who is passionate about her work and the children. Riette Else, a trainer at READ had just come back from a school visit and in one the areas she had gone to, this is what she saw.

This is where the children at the Angel House day care centre spend hours of their day waiting for parents, siblings or relatives to pick them up after work.

These children are nothing short of miracles, wearing smiles on their faces day in and day out. We cannot all have the privilege of sending our children to the best schools with the best facilities, however, we can all make a difference in the lives of children own way or the other.

The trainers at READ have seen the worst of circumstance children are learning in around the country.Their task is not only to ensure that teachers are appropriately skilled to do their work at optimal levels but also to encourage them to be creative in their work and  to make their work environment and classrooms print rich and conducive for learning.

Our children are vulnerable and cannot change their own circumstances but we can play a role in ensuring their joy and safety one way or the other.

Is your little angel in their little heaven???

Field of dreams- Contribution by Derek Smith

Random acts of kindness usually have the most charming results which brings more joy to the giver than to the receiver. Last week the following chain of events left me with a feel good experience that still makes me smile.

First the back-story:

This year READ is distributing 1 000 blank journals as part of the 2010 Readathon Campaign with the following message;

“This journal is on a Journey – and we would like you to be part of it.

One thousand journals, like this one, are traveling from one person to the next throughout South Africa. Those who find them will add their stories and drawings, and then pass the journal on to someone else until the whole journal is filled.

We want you to use photos, cartoons, drawings, sketches, collage or poems to tell your story. It is all about you, who you are, where you are, what you are thinking, wanting or doing. Pen or pencil, crayon or paint. Just write something about yourself and what you do.”

These journals should, when full, be handed in at a CNA store. The best entries will be judged and published as part of a journal reflecting South African life in 2010. The idea behind this campaign is to recognize the value of writing in functional literacy. 

The other part of the story was me nagging the love of my life to pose for a photograph, something she hates with a passion;

♥ Girl’s daughter bought her an exquisite antique hand-embroidered Bedouin dress at the Jaffa Flea Market in Tel Aviv many moons ago. For years it’s hung in the cupboard hardly ever being worn. I bought a nifty little photo-sampler Lomography camera a while ago which really relies on the alchemy of photography with four little plastic lenses firing in quick succession on 35mm film. I pleaded for days on end until Her Royal Highness sighed, flounced off, putting on the dress so that I could take some photographs in front of a mosaic in our garden. I thought the contrasting colours will work well in lomo.

Afterward this momentous photo-shoot ♥ Girl said she might as well get rid of the dress as she will never wear it again. I suggested that we either have cushion covers made of the embroidered pieces or donate it to “Bounty Hunters Charity Shop” close to our home.  But that would have been a sad waste as the dress would be special to someone that could appreciate it for what it is - a coat of many colours.     

I was quite happy with the photos and posted two on my Flickr site which then lead to the following chain of events;  

On 7 September the first person posting a comment remarked;

“Oh my gosh, I SO BADLY want that outfit. I love the business of the Bedouin against the mosaic...it works here!”

When I read this I knew that karma was at play and that the dress has found a new home. I phoned ♥ Girl and asked her if I could offer it as a surprise gift which she was quite happy to do.

On 8 September I replied;

“Surprise, surprise……! You can have it. My partner got this many years ago as a gift when her daughter went to Israel and she’s actually never wore it. We don’t know what to do with it and was thinking of getting someone to make cushion covers for us, using the dress.

Let me have your address and I’ll send it to you.”

Shortly thereafter I received an answer;

“Oh my goodness....I literally screamed when I read your mail. You have NO idea, how much this means to me. I too am a great believer that things happen as they should.”

I obtained the address. This was in Vanderbijlpark,  which is close to Jozi and I I couriered it the next day.  I slipped one of “Journals on a Journey” in which I wrote an entry about the garment into the package. The parcel was delivered the same afternoon.

I then received the following e-mail:

“I already have my dress on. One of the girls in my office is currently in tears...she is so touched by the story. The book, the writing in it, the concept... I cannot stop smiling. I cannot stop thinking about how I am going to pass the book on and make someone else as happy as you have made me. I cannot stop thanking you...

And the dress was made for me in every sense of the word.

 THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK you a million times over!

 PS  I was looking for a way to end my 52 week project and you gave it to me...

 Love and blessings and peace to you both!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot say thank you enough.

When the book comes back you will see all the symbolism that has come with the dress for me...the positive energy and blessing through both your kindnesses”

I didn’t know what this 52-week project was all about until I saw the following photographs on Flickr with their comments:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adelbeukes/

“Earlier this week I saw a photo of a Bedouin Dress on Flickr. What followed after I commented on the pic and the dress is nothing short of awesome.

Not long after the comment I got an email. To cut a  long story short a day later I got the dress and an added bonus -  a journal called, “Journal on a Journey” ...there are a 1000 copies...of which I have one in my hands...each person write their thoughts, wishes etc., and then pass it on to the next person to add their photos, drawings...etc....

I think this is such an inspiring idea and I'm ever so thankful for being involved

“My 52 weeks of self-portraits is ended by random strangers who did a small deed that to me meant a massive amount.  I feel blessed and lucky to have received such a wonderful surprise. I got this beautiful beyond words Bedouin dress in a package

It feels like I have been chosen to be part of something...along with the beyond beautiful Bedouin dress there was a "Journal on a Journey" inside the box. When I opened and read it my heart skipped a few beats and i still have not been able to stop smiling. Not only because the dress is amazing, but because i have been touched by kindness.

So I end my 52 weeks project on a complete high. I wanted to portray the feeling of freedom and lightness that i am experiencing...and I cannot wait to send my Journal on its journey.”

And so the circle of life continues. Karma at play.

I know there some repetition in the comments but I’m leaving it as is otherwise otherwise the spontaneity will be lost in translation

I love it when a plan comes together and I’m sure this dress will be worn with joy and that its history will be told many times over. I also hope that the journal will complete its journey and that I’ll have the privilege of seeing it again.

Choosing the best school for your child

Dear parents

We all want the best for our children especially when it comes to the quality of education offered to them. In you search for a school, you look for results in that school but that's only one aspect of the school that contributes in the success of your child.

"The teacher" has gathered some tips for us to look into when finding a school for your child.

Best school? It’s the teachers who count

 High school principals often boast about their matric results and the achievements of their sports teams. Boys-only schools are likely to focus on sport, whereas girls-only schools will focus more on matric results and cultural achievements.

Most of the better public and independent schools are also likely to place emphasis on their facilities, with computer rooms, white boards, swimming pools and Astroturf touted as part of their sales pitch. The better independent schools, in an effort to trump the facilities and triumphs of the better public schools, will tell of small classes and the individual support they are able to provide because of this.

Some will also brag of alternative examination systems such as the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) or Cambridge O- and A-levels, as if these somehow give the schools greater exclusivity. Many parents are taken in by these claims and, as a result, select a school for their child in the same way some of our politicians choose their apparel -- it must have a designer label and it must be "bling".

The problem with this approach is its focus on the outward facade of the school and not on the things that really matter.
The schools that are good, caring institutions are not so because of their fees, facilities or the size of their classes but because of the people who work in them — the teachers and support staff who will interact with your child on a daily basis. 

Research into effective schooling consistently produces two factors that stand out for pupil success. There is strong evidence linking the ability of the teacher to engage pupil thinking through appropriate questioning and the teacher's ability to select and use a range of teaching styles to improve learning and better academic performance.

The influence of the principal relates to his or her leadership and management skills and ability to create the kind of learning environment that will allow skilled and creative teachers to flourish.

How then do anxious parents, keen to give their children the best possible education, determine whether their choice of school is really as good as it pretends to be?

• Speak to parents who have a child at the school and ask them whether their child is happy, whether he or she is doing well academically and whether he or she is involved in extracurricular programmes.
• When asking about the school's extramural programme, focus on the range and diversity of the activities that are offered and the levels of participation.
• Drive past the school at different times of the day, including when the formal school day begins and ends. Observe the children. Are they happy, relaxed and cheerful and is there a sense of order and respect for one another and for passers-by?
• If the school has an open day, use it to take a walk through the school, keeping your eyes open for the tell-tale signs of a well-managed, child-centred institution.
• In the case of primary schools, inquire about the performance of pupils in the externally set grade three and grade six systemic assessment conducted by the department of basic education. Some of the more affluent schools may also make use of similar internationally bench marked tests such as the Schools International Assessment task tests developed by the University of Queensland in Australia. These tests provide schools with an accurate measure of the proficiency of their pupils in the key areas of literacy and numeracy.
In the case of primary schools not linked to a high school, make enquiries about acceptance levels into the better local high schools. It should give you a good guide to the assessment standard of the school. In the case of high schools, National Senior Certificate results provide the most objective measure of performance. Although a 100% pass rate is viewed by many political commentators as the ultimate measure of success, it is a fairly blunt instrument. Focus rather on the percentage of pupils who achieve a pass that allows them to enrol for a bachelors degree. Better still, ask the school to provide you with information about university acceptance rates for candidates and how those candidates performed once enrolled at university. Don't get bamboozled into believing that private examination bodies such as the IEB are somehow better than the National Senior Certificate exams that are written by all state schools or that the results from these alternative examination bodies are more acceptable to universities. It is simply not true. In the end, choosing the right school for your child is about choosing the school that will best meet his or her needs. Much as we like to disparage our education system, it still includes public and independent schools that are as good as the best that the rest of the world can offer.