Limits to learning

Falling through the cracks

A new report released by the department of basic education as part of the General Household Survey (2011) paints a grim picture of life for SAs schoolchildren and those who should be in class but arent. These were some of its key ndings:

But why?

More than 500 000 children aged seven to 18 are not attending school

At least 27% of children aged

WHY

Within the seven to 18 age range, the highest proportion of children not in school 480 000 was in the group aged 16 to 18 (the SA Schools Act dictates that children aged seven to 15 must, legally, be enrolled in school) Percentage of the population nationally, aged 16 to 18, not in school 31% coloured

Education obstacles

between seven and 18 cited a lack of money as their reason for not going to school

Other reasons given include pregnancy, illness, Im too young/old , the closest school is too far away and a lack of transport

Of those children attending school, 6% nationally said a lack of books was the biggest problem in 2011 a great improvement from the 21% who said this in 2002

About 13% told researchers education was useless or they were not interested in going to school Some respondents said schools were too violent

Pupils also complained about high fees, poor facilities, a lack of teachers and poor quality of teaching Large class sizes were also a common complaint

FEES

Teachers are useless!

19% indian

Violence

Pregnancy

14% black

More than 2.6 million of the countrys 14 million pupils said they had experienced violence in schools often in the form of corporal punishment or verbal abuse

In 2011 alone, by the time they were interviewed by the department, more than 51 000 schoolgirls across SA had given birth

14% white

The problem was at its worst in the Eastern Cape 44% of pupils there said theyd encountered violence at school Gautengs schools and teachers were the least violent just 8.7% of pupils there reported violence

51 000 given birth

44%
13 000 pregnant

The good news: Only 1% of seven to 15-yearolds were not in school in 2011, compared with 3% of that age groups population in 2002
Source: Department of basic education

2002

3%

2011

1%

8.7%

More than 13 000 of the schoolgirls interviewed by the department were pregnant at the time
RUDI LOUW, Graphics24