Are we setting up our youth for failure?
12 years of schooling is about to culminate with further pressure mounting on the class of 2016 to outperform their predecessors
AMID a volatile higher education climate and shaky outlook for the new academic year, thousands of Zululand matriculants are writing their final senior certificate examinations.
There is little doubt they will be completely divorced from the worrying developments at tertiary institutions throughout the country, especially when contemplating life after matric.
Nevertheless, 12 years of schooling is about to culminate with further pressure mounting on the class of 2016 to outperform their predecessors.
The biggest concern is the future of these youngsters, who will not only be hurled into a vicious cycle of unemployment, but also the raging ‘Fees must fall’ battle.
Will universities be able to accommodate students and if academic lessons cease, is the administration adequately prepared for admissions – usually another point of contention and protest action at campuses.
This comes as Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, warned on Thursday that close to a million matriculants could lose placements at universities if the academic year is not concluded.
The ripple effect is that all students from first year to final year will be affected – and ultimately the economy as well as no new skilled graduates will enter the job market.
Another fear is the number of progressed matric pupils in KZN which has shot up significantly, signalling a likely decline in the matric pass rate statistics. The provincial figure has increased by 17 403 from 10633 in 2015 to 28 036 this year.
For education authorities, this already spells bad news as the province has consecutively seen a downward curve in the matric pass rate since 2013.
Last year KZN was the second worst performing province, recording a pass rate of only 60.7% – down 9% from the previous year. The 2014 pass rate took a dip of 7.7% compared to 2013.
The sad reality is that we are failing the youth of South Africa by consistently dropping standards to increase percentages – a prime example being the 33.33% pass mark for pupils across all basic levels.
By reducing the competency level of our pupils to reach minimal requirements to enter tertiary institutions, we are essentially setting them up for failure.
This is notwithstanding a tornado of political, economic and social influences already swirling over the next batch of matriculants.
What is certain, however, is that in the face of doom and gloom, we will see success stories and outstanding individual performances.
We wish the class of 2016 well during their examination and can only hope and pray that they secure places at tertiary institutions come 2017.
