Dialogue about school dropouts

Brand South Africa hosted the Sowetan Dialogues at Uncle Toms Hall in Orlando West in Soweto last Wednesday to find ways to keep pupils and students in school.

The dialogue was intended to give residents the opportunity to air their views on the subject.

The facilitator was Power FM’s presenter Tim Modise. The panel for the evening included Professor Adam Habib of Wits University, Panzaya Lesufi of the Department of Basic Education, Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele of Higher Education South Africa and Rosie Chirongoma from Symphonia, a leadership development consultancy.

“It is time that we put the African child first by repairing our houses and communities and by having a good sense of who we are,” said Modise.

He said that this will be a difficult task but it is not an impossible one.

Lesufi said that one must consider other factors of why they is a high level of dropouts. He said that these include pupils in jail, repetition, pupils opting for FET colleges, private and overseas education, the quality of teaching and learning and lack of remedial support.

He said that in 2006, 360 000 pupils started Grade R and that number has grown to 800 000 in 2014.

Professor Habib said the department of Education needs to look at the smallest details and fix them.

He said that one of the reasons why girl pupils in rural areas don’t go to school is because there are no toilets

“If you want girl pupils in rural areas to go to school build toilets it is that simple,” he said.

Habib also spoke about how, when he drives around areas like Sandton, he has never seen pupils roaming the streets during school hours.

“It saddens me how when I drive in Soweto pupils are walking around in their uniforms during school hours,” he said.

Chirongoma said that parents must take a leading role in their children’s education.

“Parents must come together and figure out ways to make schooling better for their children,” she said.