‘SET the bar high and you will have better achievers.’ These were the words of Prof Jonathan Jansen, the University of the Free State’s (UFS) vice-chancellor and rector at the university’s talk, Education and the future of South Africa.
The Durban Country Club conference room was packed to capacity with top pupils, principals and teachers from various KwaZulu-Natal schools.
“You are so lucky that you have such a concentration of good schools in the Durban area and I am absolutely astounded by the quality of principals present today,” he said.
Touching on the serious subject of South Africa’s education and its future, Prof Jansen said it was vital for South Africa’s government to raise the expectations for its school pupils and university students in order to have high quality achievers.
“Simply passing at school or university is not going to ensure anyone a job, excelling will. Strive to become great. Not great in Durban, but great globally,” he said.
Prof Jansen also stressed the importance of teachers and the role they play in motivating their pupils.
“South Africa’s education system needs to change and we need to teach our children that they can achieve. How can you tell a child they can’t achieve if you haven’t even given them a chance to try,” he said of the country’s low pass rate.
At the event UFS also held a lucky draw for two of the attending pupils to win bursaries to the university. It was won by Jessica Stegen from St Johns DSG and Nicola Fryer from Kloof High School.
