The South African education system is not failing because the teachers are bad or that the students are slow. The problem is the curriculum. In a country that has a majority that is African, using the Western and colonial education system, which the majority of the students consuming it have no relation to, is problematic.
The government of South Africa is still one that is colonized, therefore it is difficult for them to teach anything outside their colonial master’s ways.
Looking at Africa’s best education system Zimbabwe (with the highest literacy rating, according to The African Economist), we notice that its curriculum is Afrocentric, the students are taught with examples and context that is relatable to them, of cause the country does have European langue’s that are used in teaching, such as Germen and English, they also have Latin and use Native languages in township and rural schools, Shona and Ndebele.
South Africa is the only country in Africa that is still owned by its white minority. While no one can deny that Africa is not fully owned by Africans, the little that African states own, belong to its African people, unlike South Africa; where only less than 3% of the economy is owned by the natives. While the liberation for the rest of Africa meant that the natives finally owned their own resources and economy, the last country to gain its liberation, South Africa, does not own its economy. It ended the reign of the white government, but never really ended the economic system of that government.
Still today the education system of South Africa, teaches the students how to serve the white master and if not the white master the black political elite master. The South African history books are full of useless “stories” that do not allow for engagement and critical thought. The stories of how the Dutch and British colonized South Africa, the only African history that makes a prominent appearance is that of the ANC, some Biko and bushman, but nothing concrete.
While we acknowledge the contribution of the ANC, there needs to be more focus on African history, African leaders and the great contribution of the other African states to the liberation movement of this country. South African students have no idea who some the greatest African leaders, Sankara, Lumumba, Nkrumah , etc…. there is no perspective on leaders, Sobukwa, PAC, IFP, UDM, these are all crucial parts of South African and African history and identity.
There needs to be a 98% African literature in schools, books written by African authors, examples in math need to be made in reference to African and South African surroundings. Using huts and kraals, spaza shops and Afrikan names like Thabo, Zuko and less of John and Ben. This is not to isolate the white minority, who are already being taught in private schools anyway, who have true reflection of South Africa.
The honorable president Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon that can change the word.” But you can only change something if you understand the damage or effect it is causing or it has.
The students do not relate to the curriculum and that is the biggest problem. There needs to be focus on work, authors like Cheikh Anta Diop, Zakes Mda, Shange, Emmanuel Ngara and many other great African writers. South Africa needs to stop trying to be the Europe of the continent and start being part of Africa. The truth about this country is that, even the name itself holds no significant meaning, and maybe it may need to redefine itself and find its own identity outside of its colonial masters.
As with the case of young white South Africans, who can not understand why they have to be labeled in the same light as their grandfathers and fathers.
For as long as they are benefiting from the injustice of the natives and the natives are still also living under the inherited past of the past government, the country will never move forward.
Can we then blame the new white generation South Africans? No, for the problem is with the government that failed to redress the economic and land issues from the beginning. The biggest mistake made by the ANC government was allowing the white South African farmers to keep their land, with no rumination to its real owners, further more for allowing the economy to remain in white hands.
Can we then say the ANC sold us to the white colonial master, who are still getting richer from the poverty and pain of South African natives? No one can be sure if they fully understood the blunder they were making.
The education system needs to be decolonized and belong to the African majority who are failing under the current system. This will help in the low pass rates and help with “Awakening” of the Afrikan consciousness.