This morning the news was, once again, almost completely dominated by stories of the ever-burgeoning public service strike. Some unions are poised to accept government's wage offers, while others remain "bloody, bold and resolute" in their demands, to quote `The Bard'.
One news item piqued my interest and fanned my strike- ire flames: The Justice and Social Development departments have announced that more child, and youth-care centres are to be built.
While we spend government money on institutions to take care of young law-breakers; should we not be looking at how, as a society, we "birth" young criminals?
School buildings are and should be, a priority. The more functioning schools we have, the less we will need to cater for school drop-outs and scores of unemployed youths; who turn to crime to "pass the time" and "earn" an income.
Look at the statistics, and you will see how many children are "lost" to the education system between their enrollment at Grade 1 level and their final Grade 12 year. High-risk behaviours and premature deaths account for only some of these drop-out statistics.
What are we doing wrong to cause our youth to turn their backs on education and opportunities for self-growth and self-improvement? Quite a lot, it would seem.
In dysfunctional schools all over the country, teacher absenteeism rates have soared. Many schools simply do not open, or close very early on teachers' payday. Teachers are tasked with inspiring our youth to pursue knowledge and gain lifelong skills to equip them to face the adult world, the world beyond the classroom. Teachers are expected to broaden children's horizons, to get them excited about "the great big world out there". Can this happen if teachers are not in their classrooms?
If teachers are not in their classrooms, teaching, what motivation do children have to go to school, to learn? The government needs to re-open the good old-fashioned Teacher Training Colleges which worked. These institutions produced teachers of a high calibre who had a clear idea about their roles, functions, and subject matter.
Today, many teachers opt to study through distance learning programs and only start gaining practical experience when they are employed in their first teaching post. Teaching is a hands-on, experiential process and teachers need more than just subject knowledge and expertise to be effective in the classroom and the broader society.
A dwindling respect for teachers has resulted from the many unprofessional teachers on the ground who have, unfortunately, tainted the reputation of ALL of South Africa's teachers. Our truly professional teachers, need first to earn our pupils' respect, before effective teaching can really take place. In the "good old days", teachers were respected by virtue of the high-standing they held in society.
And so the problem grows and slowly starts to spiral out of control. Learners no longer see teachers as members of a "helping" profession so they do not turn to us when they should. A child in trouble, in a functional school, will often share a traumatic event or crisis with his or her teacher, before sharing the experience with a family member. In dysfunctional schools, to whom can learners turn?
As learners no longer respect their teachers, it is difficult for them to see teachers as authorities on their subject; or indeed authority figures at all. How can we expect learners to look up to teachers; when teachers are very often not worthy role models?
The government needs to build new schools. Statistics show that, in the Eastern Cape alone, at least 1000 new schools need to built, to start. If schools are full, and in short supply, we are creating and feeding the drop-out rate problems.
However, a school is not just a building; it is so much more. The quality of our teachers is the single most important determining factor in the success or failure of our individual schools, and the education system at large. Unions who fought to see the inspection system dissolved have created a monster - thousands of teachers simply go through the motions and teach for the money, and not for our children or our country's future.
Government needs to move quickly to ensure that our teachers are listed among essential services staff in our public service. Teachers need to realise that is unprofessional and immoral to stay away from the classroom in times of strike action. The very essence of our positions revolves around the children we teach. What happens to children when their teachers are on strike?
A teachers' strike is more complicated than just a "chalk-down". Teachers during times of strike action, literally turn their backs on their learners and use them as pawns. What do you think our children are doing now? Do you think they are studying; do you think they are safe; do you think they are off the streets and keeping themselves busy with gainful pursuits?
In our small town, the streets are full of children, the taverns are making huge profits during school hours, and the drug sellers are rubbing their hands in glee. If our teachers continue to fail our children, government will indeed need to invest money in the building of youth-care centres, rather than schools.
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