An appeal was made to the Alex community to partner schools in educating children who struggle and are progressed through the grades.
Many of them seemingly fail matric and are forced to walk away with nothing after years of school. The call by a principal was for a collective engagement on a challenge that ought to be resolved in the interest of rescuing a national resource and asset for national development. “It’s particularly in maths, science, and accounting that we need to help them in order to relieve the country from depending on external outsourcing.
“This at a time when attendance in pure maths lessons and accounting has declined which is bad and creates trouble for the country’s future through the shortage of engineers and accountants,” said Realogile principal Matthews Choshi.
In its effort to resolve the challenge, the Department of Education structured two examinations sitting for the pupils with one on four subjects in December and the other three subjects in June. Still, some of the pupils are expected not to pass in the two sessions. Examples of successes in this regard are seemingly needed to motivate the pupils that it can be done with will, zeal, and determination. Choshi said what was perplexing was that the children seem oblivious to the education being provided for free including bursaries for the tertiary level being availed to them only on condition of good performance.
“Corporates and the local-focused agencies like the Vincent Tshabalala Scholarship which has helped many achievers are keen to help those from struggling backgrounds who show exemplary commitment.”
This he said should be motivation enough. “Just pass and they are there for you but, children don’t seem to see it. they instead even failed life orientation and their own home language which they seem to demean at the expense of self-pride and social cohesion.” Choshi further lamented the absence of after-school study opportunities where nutritional support is also provided. This includes avoiding sessions provided by Npos and former alumni members who want to plough back.”
He said most times, schools and teachers are blamed particularly by some parents. “This is despite the extra effort they put through night, holidays, weekend studies and the provision of textbooks to the targeted pupils.”
Choshi added that some parents also avoided scheduled appraisal meetings on their children’s performance. “Others are surprised when told of the challenges they should have resolved at home on a child’s negative conduct.”
He urged them to also seek help from school governing body members in the community on issues that disturb children’s schoolwork like noise from taverns, parties, and lack of light for night study. “Schools alone won’t produce miracles from children without parental involvement. “Also most children can reflect on positive strategies to exit their negative circumstances without parental guidance in partnership with the schools.
Related article:
Realogile Secondary School mourns the death of one of its learners
