Enabling children to improve the quality of life requires crucial education.
Overview
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) manages and administers education in the province. The department serves approximately 1.1 million learners in over 1,500 public schools and about 500 independent schools. Statistics indicate that 37.1% of children in the Western Cape are underprivileged.
The WCED has made significant progress in improving the quality of education in the province. However, it still requires more assistance to educate young children. Greater Good Development aims to improve the quality of education, particularly in townships and areas where education is not prioritized. Furthermore our teaching and childcare programs also make a positive impact on education in these areas.
Curriculum
The WCED is dedicated to developing a relevant and dynamic curriculum tailored to meet the learners’ needs in the province. They have aligned the curriculum with national policy to ensure students receive a comprehensive education. Greater Good employs staff trained in this curriculum, enabling their programs to align seamlessly with the WCED’s educational objectives. Curriculum knowledge and quality of teaching are equally important.
The curriculum also covers various subjects, including language, mathematics, science, social sciences, and life skills, providing students with a well-rounded and holistic learning experience.
Quality of teaching
The quality of education in the Western Cape heavily depends on the quality of teaching. Currently, most public schools face significantly increased classroom sizes, with approximately 50 children per teacher. Consequently, teachers find it nearly impossible to provide adequate attention to all children requiring additional assistance in their classes. The expected ratio of teachers to children is 30 children per teacher.
To address this issue, Greater Good Development will also assist schools in Cape Town that require extra support. We will deploy dedicated volunteers in classrooms and tutoring sessions, allowing children to receive individual attention in the specific areas they need improvement. Greater Good has developed programs such as School Readiness, Teaching and Childcare Programs to provide this kind of assistance.
South Africa boasts one of the world’s largest education systems, with over 12 million learners in approximately 25,000 schools. However, the quality of education in the country remains a cause for concern, with South Africa ranking near the bottom in global education rankings.
Challenges
Despite significant efforts to improve the quality of education in the Western Cape, it is evident that these measures are insufficient to address the ongoing problem. The high number of students in classrooms overwhelms teachers, and many children lack adequate seating or desks to work on. Underprivileged schools often have overcrowded classrooms.
Children in townships face additional challenges regarding their safety while traveling to school. Many have to walk for approximately 30 minutes, crossing main roads and navigating potentially dangerous areas. These children lack access to school buses and endure long walks under harsh conditions, including scorching hot days and cold rainy days, just to reach school.
Basic needs
Basic school needs are lacking for many children, such as pens and pencils, hindering their full participation in classrooms. Parents in townships struggle to afford the required stationery for their children. The prices of stationery are exorbitant and beyond the means of most township parents. Faced with limited resources, parents prioritize buying food over spending large amounts of money on stationery. You can read more about this issue.
Parents spent R39.5 million on stationery goods for the financial year 2022/23. Despite this expenditure, some children still lack the basic uniform required for school. These children rely on donated uniforms from previous pupils to have the necessary school uniform.
A significant number of children are not enrolled in formal schooling, and some have not been placed in schools by the age of five. At this age, children should ideally be starting Grade R, marking the beginning of their educational journey. However, the reality is that many children have yet to enter school by this age. Financial constraints and neglect on the part of caregivers or parents contribute to this situation.
Greater Good Development is committed to enhancing the quality of education, particularly for those who lack the basic necessities needed to pursue a successful academic journey. We dedicate ourselves to addressing the challenges faced by these individuals and ensuring they have access to the resources and support required to thrive in their school careers.
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