The high failure rate among learners in grade twelve in the Northern Province: an education perspective

[摘要] English: Bantu Education set up a separate system of education for black children, whichdisadvantaged them in the provision of resources. While this led to the 1976resistance to Bantu Education, it also led to the decline in the culture of teaching andlearning in schools. After 1994 the new government began the process of creatingone single education department from 17 separate ones and of redressing theinequalities that had existed for so long.This research examines the nature and causes of high failure rates in Grade 12 inthe Northern Province. It also discloses the lack of resources prevailing in theschools and the effects of these poor resources. Loss of school days due toboycotts, strikes, late registration, meetings held during school hours andabsenteeism is also disclosed by this research.Parental disinterest in the education of their children coupled with failure to integratethe school in the local community, poverty, illiteracy, absence of parents from homeand unemployment, were disclosed by this research to be among the contributoryfactors towards high failure rates.An attempt was further made by this research to disclose the staff-related problemssuch as poor salaries, lack of evaluation, lack of promotional opportunities, maledominated appointments into promotion posts and lack of training opportunities asfurther contributory factors.Although not all solutions can be provided by this research, it ends with thepresentation of the recommendations towards addressing the problem of high failurerates in Grade 12 in the Northern Province by means of a holistic approach.

[发布机构] University of the Free State