Alex schools should not celebrate the marginal improvements of their 2015 matric results. This according to Milton Buthelezi of the national school governing bodies.
The five Alex secondary school pass rate ranged from 64 percent (Realogile Secondary School) to 94.1 percent (Kwa Bhekilanga Secondary School), and have not maintained a steady yearly progress which is creating doubt that they will ever achieve the Holy Grail of 100 percent.
Buthelezi said by celebrating the results, it sent a wrong message that township children and residents should be happy with marginal improvements. He urged residents to first assess the results in context by considering the quality of the passes and the distinctions. “This will assist them, children and teachers to understand the challenges still ahead before celebrating prematurely.”
The quality, he said, was poor and will be attested to by the number of pupils who passed but would be declined university entrance or will drop out in the first year as they would not be able to cope with tertiary studies.
Buthelezi attributed the problem to parents, leaders, school governing bodies and pupils. “No one will solve this situation but ourselves.”
He said parents didn’t attend meetings to get feedback on the school’s performance, and to discuss children’s performance and conduct. Buthelezi added that parents didn’t supervise their children’s studies and never asked them for school reports, only to complain to the school when they failed.
He chastised school governing bodies which, he said, had failed in their roles. “They only fight for portfolios, are more concerned with schools financial matters and not overall performance of children, and are manipulated by others for ulterior motives.”
He blamed political parties for lacking the zeal to lead and urged them to unite in the interest of the children. Teachers, he said, lacked inspiration and the desire to compete with better performing schools. “Some are allocated subjects they aren’t qualified and experienced to teach, and use vulgar language which prompts children to react and creates tension in class.”
He added that some children were not punctual for class, others could be seen on the street playing.
