educate who,for what and how?

An education system that is not responsive to the current and future challenges of the economy is doomed to fail the economy. Challenges faced by a country from skills development, unemployment, underemployment and many more are easily resolved by consistent re-engineering of the education system to respond positively. Latest discussion about the quality of Mathematics is a point at hand.

We still face challenges created by an apartheid government. From poorly trained teachers, of which in majority are already resigning because of age, to lack of visionary leadership both in public and private sector. You will be correct to ask, what then is the current 'democratic government' doing about this picture? What needs to be done by ordinary citizen?

The outcry of the 1955 Freedom Charter: The doors of Learning and Culture shall be open, is far from being realised. This is informed by the opinion that a culture may be created by a government BUT most importantly, a culture that last longer and has a lasting impact, is the one that out of the daily interaction of society, a community culture is developed.

What we currently are engage on as South African, it seems we are still in neglecting the call of Go Back To School. I still want to hear an outcry in the media or parliament in regard to  the Skills Development Act. Every year both the public and private sector accepts that they've not done enough in meeting the minimum obligation required. BBBEE scores in regard to education is not yet been an outcry or a priority. This picture will not change unless something drastically happens. Either led by public/private sector or by an overthrow of the government.

The failure to deliver books, build schools, supply relevant material that will enable proper education, continuous of training and retraining teachers and School Management Team will ultimately create citizens that have all necessary raw material but are unable to to convert it to products to be consumed by other citizen or international market. Skill to produce products for the local or international market are more vast and technologically biased today than ever in the history of human.

It is more important today to be computer literate more than any other period before. Not only because you will be a programmer but for the daily usage of this machines in our daily lives make certain difficult task easier. One can buy a book and get it delivered at home without stepping outside of the front door. One can write novels and publish them in countries s/he has not seen or touched. One can sell services or products online. Majority of people know Facebook and it's founder while they have not met him. I have yet see a usage manual of Google, Twitter, Facebook and other social network so far. That is the power of computer literacy.

How then do we take what is happening on the social networks to our classrooms or schools? Can we develop a system that will encourage both young and old to read? How many kids have mini libraries at home? How many parents have mini libraries or personal computers at home? Do we only focus on academic material and pay less attention to reading materials for leisure? How will we be innovative if we don't read? How can we be leaders of the world without a culture of reading?

What happens when we are led by leaders who have a phobia of books? Is it the first time you notice that service delivery is about destroying wells of future development? What informs the burning of a library and a clinic? what informs the barricading of young learners to go to school? Do we destroy the opportunities of the future generation because we see ourselves as failures in life and we don't want the young ones to succeed? Out of all this challenges, can we find a common goal? More questions less answers, isn't it?

I believe we are capable to turn this bleak picture to a positive one. All these thoughts came after observing mainly two scenarios. Viz

1. The informal discussion about introducing programming as a compulsory subject for all students
2. The introduction of tablets in Gauteng schools

The approach by the Gauteng government is expensive and ill-informed. The GP government is by far the one that has beautiful and noble ICT ideas, as per my observation. The introduction of gauteng online is one example. Also the failure of the gauteng online a point for discussion. The challenges of gauteng online is not documented and steps to correct it or communication about the solution is none existent. How will the gauteng government succeed in implementing the tablet per child is interesting. How do you move forward without making an assessment of where you come from?

The introduction of tablets in schools is partially responsible for the re-entrance of the discussion of compulsory programming education. I have not included the digital campaign against the removal of Java as an exam subject in grade 12 as it is a topic of it's own and it also has dimensions that needs further engagement especially by the weak, self seeking praise FOSS community in South Africa. The campaign for Java at grade 12, is also another contributor to the compulsory programming education.

Combining the discussion of introducing compulsory programming in schools debate and the department of basic education Ministerial Committee on the Nationational Senior Certificate  (http://www.education.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YLrgfGldINU%3d&tabid=36), I can deduce that: 

1. The teachers will need a vigorous training and also note that the majority are old and computer illiterate
2. The schools will need more computer labs
3. The department will have to decide whether to use FOSS or proprietery software
4. Win the trade unions operating in schools
5. Parents will have to buy computers for homeworks
6. Telkom will have to develop ADSL infrastructure in previously disavantage communities. Please note that I am in Gauteng and don't have an ADSL line. I am using an 8ta sim card as it's cheaper for me so far. Cell C is the only contesting operator so far.

This picture is growing to be more blured when you take into consideration that you will only focusing on the platform and you still need to address issues relevant to other sectors like accounting, engineering and so forth.

I live in a previously disadvantage community where liquor sells like hot cakes, nyaope and drug abuse is devastating the community, house breaking is growingly becoming a hobby. With these huge investment by parents and government, who will protect it (the investment)? This is informed by the fact that the nearest City of Tshwane's library has been broken into on several occasion and computers were the main target.

We are facing a challenge that as we move one step forward, new challenges emerges that takes us three steps backward. The interesting observation is that those who manages to stay in better communities do not have the interest to drive towards a culture of reading and learning. This is reflected by the number of the 'middle and or upper class' every year drowning in debts. Debts created through house and car loans, clothes and food.

I was in the University of Pretoria on the 03rd of September 2014 graduation ceremony. It was interesting to note that the majority of those graduating were Africans. Those that i have discussed with in terms of their interest in advancing their academic path, I found mixed reactions, some are actively continuing with studies while others don't see themselves pursuing anything further than what they've achieved.

The transformation in the education sector is important as I stated early, will ultimately drive the nature and extent of the economic growth and build a sustainable economy that will create opportunities for all. Also today's market is no longer determined by the geographical boundary and how we react to that determines how successful we become as a nation. I guess the opening of the South African market in the early 1990s has surpassed us and we need to catch up or be kicked out of the country of our birth.

Transformation can not happen if the as citizen are not interested to transform ourselves. Reading books for leisure of for academic purpose needs to be developed to the level of a culture and no one will do that if individuals lack the will to do so. Assisting teachers in their daily path of equipping future leaders is not only the responsibility of parents alone, but all of us, brothers, sisters and neighbours. Let us start with those kids roaming the streets during working hours, those who are in taverns during and after working hours, buying books for reading, assist with schools assignments, develop community clubs (i.e science, accounting or maths clubs) and so forth.

Making education fashionable is not only going to assist us to produce literate citizens but also will improve innovations, improve labour productivity, improve the standard of living, reduce crime, reduce alcohol and eliminate drug abuse.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world", "Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man made and can be removed by human beings" Nelson Mandela

Let us pick our pixel and shovels, we have more work and fewer hands

Wonder