it is possible
The achievements of 12 top-scoring public and independent schools in Gauteng reveal the scope that is possible to achieve significant improvements in South Africa’s notoriously deficient education system.
A report by the Institute for Race Relations (IRR) titled “Achievement and Enterprise in School Education” examines the changing nature of South African schools, the growing demand among parents for a better education for their children, the increasing role of independent schools in meeting this demand, as well as the successes achieved within the public school system – even among poor ‘no-fee’ (township) schools. Author of the report, IRR Policy Fellow John Kane-Berman, notes that “the real division in South Africa is not between public and independent schools but between good schools and bad ones”.
This is borne out by the results of this pilot study of 12 top-scoring schools in Gauteng, four independent schools, and eight public schools. Five of the public schools were ‘no-fee’ township schools in communities classified by the department as too poor to be allowed to charge fees (representative of some 88% of South Africa’s almost 24 000 public schools). Kane-Berman notes: “With the exception of one suburban school whose overall NSC pass rate was 93%, and one township school whose rate was 95%, all eight of the secondary schools in the study achieved rates of between 98% and 100%. So there was little difference in the performance of township and suburban schools …”
He adds: “The success of some of the no-fee and low-fee township schools … is inspiring.”
The key markers of success across the case studies are the presence of committed, competent principals who manage staff and resources with skill, enterprise and care.
Devoted, hard-working teachers willing to take on extra tuition and give their all for the benefit of pupils.
Strong parental involvement to support the efforts of principals and teachers.
Emphasis on discipline – including punctuality, and rules on school uniforms and hairstyles – and on instilling positive values in pupils.
“Achievement and Enterprise in School Education” argues the case for replicating the successes achieved by the schools covered in the study. Kane-Berman writes: “The starting-point of this research into successful public and independent schools, including those dedicated to serving poor communities, was our belief that there are among them some unacknowledged success stories.
“The results vindicate this view. Although the sample is small … a number of proposals to replicate these successes suggest themselves.” (Source: https://www.sapromo.com/lifestyle/best-township-schools-show-fix-sas-education-system)