Tuesday 22 April 2014

Solving The Problems With Public Education Should Be A High Priority

By Essie Osborn


Every successful society is based on a high quality educational system. Many parents sacrifice a lot to be able to allow their children to attend the very best schools and colleges, knowing full well that this is one of the best investments a parent can possibly make. In recent years, however, problems with public education have increasingly become a headache for educators, parents and educational authorities.

One of the biggest challenges to the teaching fraternity has been to recruit suitable potential teachers. Applications for this career have plummeted and many experienced teachers are leaving the profession. This poses a very large challenge to the system. There are simply not enough teachers and experienced teachers are in extremely short supply. If this trend continues the issue may just become critical.

Maintenance is another huge challenge. Many teachers and learners are forced to deal with rundown buildings and amenities that do not work properly. It seems as if the budgets simply do not make provision for the proper upkeep of school buildings, sports facilities and the equipment that are vital to any educational facility. This leads to demotivation and even vandalism and trespass.

Government schools simply cannot keep pace of developments the way private schools can. They do not have the funds and the facilities to keep abreast of the latest technology and educational methodology. Teachers have to cope with very little or no teaching aids. In addition, the lack of proper facilities results in very large classes where it is impossible for teachers to pay individual attention to every learner.

Experts agree that one of the biggest challenges facing schools is the serious lack of discipline. It is no longer just a matter of learners not doing their homework. Many schools have experience violence by some of their learners. Some teachers even admit to be scared of some of their students. No school can hope to offer a quality curriculum if the student body is not disciplined and willing to learn.

Many parents are not involved with the schooling their children receive. In some cases they simply cannot be bothered, but many others are simply too busy to become involved with the school. This is especially the case in poorer areas where parents have to hold down more than one job to keep the wolves from the door. If parents are not involved, the school suffers.

One of the results of the many challenges faced by government schools is that those leaving school are not ready for further training. Their schooling has not prepared them from entrance to colleges and universities. A large number of young people therefore do not obtain qualifications that can ensure them a better standard of living. In this way the cycle of poverty and hopelessness is repeated over and over again.

The schooling system plays a vital role in the overall health and wealth of any society. It is in the interest of everybody to make sure that the system works properly, that schools are adequately funded and that teachers are able to do their work in the best possible conditions. The educational system should be one of the highest priorities at all levels of government.




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