Overcoming the potholes of the South African education system through inclusive programmes

While the South African education system has come under fire several times over the past few years, the COVID-inspired hard lockdowns of 2020 have exposed further cracks. These include – but are not limited to – a high dropout rate, alarmingly high illiteracy levels and consequent poor academic performance. One may question whether the traditional education system is designed to adequately prepare young people (especially the marginalised youth living in adverse environments like townships) for their futures in the workplace. Sadly, it seems futile to wait for governmental intervention, which leaves our young people in a precarious position. In recent years, NPOs and NGOs have stepped into the situation to provide much-needed support for these young people. Just Grace is one such organisation which has created inclusive programmes designed to support at-risk youth and help them re-engage with their community.  

According to governmental statistics, the dropouts begin from as young as 15 years of age (3%). These increase marginally to 9% for 17-year-olds. The concerning jump is seen among the 18-year-olds, presumably grade 12 learners, where 29.3% do not finish their secondary education. 46.3% of 19-year-olds are no longer registered for education or training, and an alarming 77% of 20-year-olds are not in tertiary education.1

While this does not mean they are necessarily unemployed, it does, however, mean they may rely entirely on a matric certificate for employment opportunities. The following demographic information on Langa further highlights the need for intervention in the field of education and youth development:   

·      Only 41% of youth have a matric certificate or a qualification equivalent to a matric.  

·      Only 6% of youth have a tertiary qualification. 

·      53% of youth are unemployed   

·      43% of youth are not in employment, education, or training2 

The Learner Engagement Programme is designed to support disengaged youth at risk of dropping out through life skill groups, counselling and home visits by qualified social workers. This programme has seen 85% of their candidates reclassified as low or no risk. The focus of the Learner Engagement Programme extends beyond the child to address the family as a whole, embracing the belief that thriving families make for thriving communities. Just Grace seeks to address the various issues that may impact a learner to empower the family to find healing.   

According to a report by Amnesty International, 75% of South African 9-year-olds are functionally illiterate3, which means they cannot read for meaning. In several provinces, this statistic reaches 91%. Inevitably, these learners will underperform academically and risk being pushed through the system without addressing and resolving this issue. Just Grace programmes, such as the book club (part of the Qhubeka! Youth Development Programme), aim to improve participants’ literacy skills and encourage the young people to engage with ideas, form opinions and debate topical issues. It is not enough to be able to read; to flourish in life, one needs to be able to think critically and question sound arguments.  

Qhubeka! Youth Devlopment Programme participants writing book reviews

Many of the young people in Langa do not have personal access to the internet. Through programmes such as those run by Just Grace, they are not only exposed to the digital world. Still, they are equipped to succeed through technical skill development. The Qhubeka! Youth Development Programme supports participants through academic tutoring groups and computer literacy classes – including a coding course. While academic training is essential, so too is helping the youth holistically, equipping them with skills that will prepare them for life in the workforce. Such programmes aim to create citizens who can enter the workforce and maintain a sustainable life.  

In the aftermath of the COVID hard lockdown of 2020, South African schools have faced much pressure to ‘catch up’ the lost time. The danger of becoming so content-focused is that vital non-cognitive skills are overlooked, and learners are not adequately prepared for life beyond the classroom. Evidence-based programmes are greatly needed to empower marginalised youth with cognitive and non-cognitive skills. The Qhubeka! Youth Development Programme (aimed at high school learners), and the Phakama! Youth Activation Programme (open to Langa youth aged 17 – 27) emphasise developing cognitive, non-cognitive and technical skills. Participants gain soft skills such as communication, interpersonal skills and leadership, as well as developing hard, job-specific skills through the technical training courses offered (barista, accounting technicians and sewing). The programme is specifically designed to prepare candidates for either further studies or employment – a step towards ending the cycle of unemployment and poverty within their community. 

Phakama! Youth Activation Programme participants learning about the coffee roasting process, as part of the Barista Course

Social development programmes, such as those discussed above, are built on a culture of empowerment, equipping the youth with invaluable skills that will allow them a more hope-filled future. So long as education within South Africa remains a matter of statistics and purely ‘book knowledge’, for the sake of our children, more support needs to be extended to NPO-based programmes seeking to assist learners within marginalised communities.  
 

References: 

  1. South African Governmental statistics. [accessed 27 March 2023].  https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=15520  
  1. Youth Explorer [online] Available at: https://geo.youthexplorer.org.za/#category-21 [Accessed 28 March 2023].  
  1. Amnesty International. (2020, 7 February). South Africa: Broken and unequal education perpetuating poverty and inequality. Www.Amnesty.Org. [Accessed 27 March 2023] from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/02/south-africa-broken-and-unequal-education-perpetuating-poverty-and-inequality/ 
Tackling Youth Illiteracy through Book Club and Youth Upskilling Programmes with Just Grace NPO Cape Town

Tackling Illiteracy, One Child at a Time

On the 8th of September 2021, the world commemorated International Literacy Day. This is an initiative spear-headed by UNESCO to remind the international community that literacy is a right not a privilege. Yet in South Africa, more than half of all grade 4 pupils cannot read for meaning while an astounding 29% are completely illiterate. In addition, learner’s scores from the Annual National Assessment tests for grade 9s reveal that only 18% of learners scored more than 50% in their first additional language and only 48% of learners scored more than 50% in their home language. At Just Grace we understand that lacking basic literacy and comprehension skills has lasting effects and that is why we have committed ourselves to empowering and supporting young people through youth and community development programmes.

Meet Some of Our Women With Grace

So tell us, when you hear the word “grace”, what comes to mind? It’s most probably elegant and romanticised banquet scenes with Victorian-era gowns and ballroom dancing, right? Well, to us at Just Grace, we’re aligned with a different form of the word ‘grace’ - we believe that we have all received undeserved love and kindness in this life, and so we are motivated to show this same undeserved favour to others. While that sounds like something taken directly from the Oxford Dictionary, here’s what we really mean. 

We’re bringing grace to Langa, Cape Town, and we’re doing it through our various programmes in education, youth empowerment, and community upliftment. Still, we’d be nowhere without the women of Just Grace. They’re the ones who help motivate, inspire and guide our future leaders, and here is your chance to meet some of them.

Image showing Just Grace's Matric Class of 2020 | Langa, Cape Town | Matric Learning Assistance | NPO | NGO

Uncovering The ABCs Behind The 2020 Matric Results

No one needs reminding of how difficult the 2020 year was – we all experienced it – and while many of us found it a challenge, some of us were most grateful not to be writing matric. The Class of 2020 certainly will go down in history as one of the most resilient, disciplined, and dedicated groups of matrics, that’s for sure!

At Just Grace, we were fortunate enough to work alongside the dynamic leaders of tomorrow, helping students navigate distance learning, extra lessons, and changing exam timetables. We’re incredibly proud of the learners in our programmes, and we’re following their journeys closely – you can too by following our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages here. 

CONTACT US

FOLLOW US

© Copyright Just Grace All rights reserved. 

Explored, Created & Strengthened By IconomySA ™