Evaluation
The South African government has introduced several policies to tackle the issue of poor quality of education and it's implications.
1) South African Schools Act No 84 of 1996
Definition: South African Schools Act makes it compulsory for children to go to school when they reach the age of 7 and continue to be educated until he/she reaches the age of 15 or the 9th grade, whichever occurs first. (South African Legal Information Institute)
Purpose: According to the Act, the "The State must fund public schools from public revenue on an equitable basis in order to ensure the proper exercise of the rights of learners to education and the redress of past inequalities in educational provision" (Section 34( 1)).” In summary, the government hopes to remove all traces of apartheid and allow everyone to have equal opportunities by providing good quality education for all regardless of race.(Pandor, 2006)
Evaluation
2) National Education Policy Act No 27 of 1996
Definition: Admission policy for South Africa’s ordinary public schools
Purpose: This policy provides a structure for the admission policy of schools. It is targeted to governing bodies of public schools and provincial departments of education.
Evaluation
3) Employment of Educators Act No 76 of 1998
Definition: Policy of the hiring of educators in the education sector.
Purpose: Provides “for the employment of educators by the State, for the regulation of the conditions of service, discipline, retirement and discharge of educators and for matters connected therewith.” (Acts Online, 1998). In
summary, this policy is regarding the employment of capable educators to provide the children with high quality education for preparation of the modern world.
Evaluation
Overall, this policy has failed in particular for previously black schools. Based on the information provided regarding about the causes for the poor quality of education, the teachers lack the expertise to properly teach the children. Many of them also have little drive to perform their duties to the best of their abilities.
4) Early Childhood Development
Definition: According to South Africa Government Online (n.d.), “ECD is a comprehensive approach to programmes and policies for children from birth to nine years of age with the active participation of their parents and caregivers. Its purpose is to protect the rights of children to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential.”
Policies that come under ECD includes:
a) Interim Policy for Early Childhood Development of 1996
b) Education White Paper 5 on Early Childhood Education of 2001
c) Children’s Act
Overall Evaluation of Early Childhood Development
There have been improvements in providing ECD services. According to Richter, et al. (2012) and Burns (2012) (as cited in PAN:Children, 2012),
5) Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), 1994-1996
Definition: The RDP is a policy framework that includes proposals, strategies and policy programmes, which meets basic needs, develops human resources, builds the economy, democratizes the state and society, and implements the RDP.
Purpose: The RDP aims to address the social and economic problems faced by South Africa so as to fully eradicate Apartheid and build a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist future. It also aims to improve standards of living and quality of life for people. (O’Malley, n.d.)
Evaluation
> There is now free and compulsory 10-year education;
> A total of 58,921 households have received 745,015 hectares of land in both redistribution and restitution programme; and
> Free medical care for pregnant women and children under six years of age is provided.
6) Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) Plan, 1996
Definition: The GEAR plan refers to the “basic economic macro-economic policy” of the government.
Purpose: It aims to strengthen economic development, broaden employment and redistribute income and socioeconomic opportunities in favour of the poor.
Evaluation: The GEAR has generally failed in achieving its goals of “economic growth, creation of quality jobs and redistribution towards the poor.”
The implementation of this policy resulted in a drop in expenditure for the public and a significant increase in private-sector. It increased the quality of healthcare gap between the blacks and the whites, urban and rural.
7) Outcomes Based Approach
Definition: The Outcomes Based Approach refers to the 12 desired outcomes developed by the government and clarifies “what we expect to achieve, how we expect to achieve it and how we will know whether we are achieving it”.
Purpose: It is designed to ensure that the government focuses on achieving improvements in life of all South Africans. (The Presidency, 2010).
Evaluation
8) Black Economic Employment
Definition: Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is a programme that the South African government launched after the transition of Apartheid in 1994 to redistribute assets and opportunities to previously disadvantaged groups, to resolve the economic disparities created by Apartheid policies, which had favoured white business owners.
Purpose: The government through Black Economic Empowerment policy hoped to help and benefit more black people such as to empower them to own and manage enterprises and achieve a substantial change in the racial composition of ownership and management structures (SouthAfrica.info, 2013).
Evaluation
Definition: South African Schools Act makes it compulsory for children to go to school when they reach the age of 7 and continue to be educated until he/she reaches the age of 15 or the 9th grade, whichever occurs first. (South African Legal Information Institute)
Purpose: According to the Act, the "The State must fund public schools from public revenue on an equitable basis in order to ensure the proper exercise of the rights of learners to education and the redress of past inequalities in educational provision" (Section 34( 1)).” In summary, the government hopes to remove all traces of apartheid and allow everyone to have equal opportunities by providing good quality education for all regardless of race.(Pandor, 2006)
Evaluation
- The act is successful in increasing the number of black children at least receiving formal education as compared to during the apartheid era. An estimate of 75% of black children from 4-6 and 98% of those aged 7-15 are currently undergoing full-time schooling. Furthermore, in the past 15 years, the number of black university students has quadrupled.
- In theory, South Africa’s large investments should guarantee more success and improvements.
- However, in reality the quality of education is still lacking. The overall pass rates in 2010 have decreased to 61% from 73% in 2003. (The Economist, 2010)
- Black students also have little or hardly any representation in courses such as science, engineering and technology, and business and commerce which produces the greatest private returns after graduating. On the other hand, whites and Indians normally dominate these programs. (Van Harte, 2006)
2) National Education Policy Act No 27 of 1996
Definition: Admission policy for South Africa’s ordinary public schools
Purpose: This policy provides a structure for the admission policy of schools. It is targeted to governing bodies of public schools and provincial departments of education.
Evaluation
- The enrolment for pre-primary (% gross) in South Africa has increased from a minimum value of 20.66 in 1999 to 65.03 as of 2009. (Index Mundi, n.d.)
- The value of the enrolment for primary school (% net) has reached 85.10 in 2009 as compared to the minimum value of 65.60 in 1970
- The large increase in enrolment indicates that this act has helped in giving a clear criteria for pre-primary and primary. The admission process is more organized and is more effectively carried out in a systematic manner.
- However, secondary schools and higher education enrolment continues to remain low. Hence, these are the areas whereby this act has failed.
3) Employment of Educators Act No 76 of 1998
Definition: Policy of the hiring of educators in the education sector.
Purpose: Provides “for the employment of educators by the State, for the regulation of the conditions of service, discipline, retirement and discharge of educators and for matters connected therewith.” (Acts Online, 1998). In
summary, this policy is regarding the employment of capable educators to provide the children with high quality education for preparation of the modern world.
Evaluation
Overall, this policy has failed in particular for previously black schools. Based on the information provided regarding about the causes for the poor quality of education, the teachers lack the expertise to properly teach the children. Many of them also have little drive to perform their duties to the best of their abilities.
4) Early Childhood Development
Definition: According to South Africa Government Online (n.d.), “ECD is a comprehensive approach to programmes and policies for children from birth to nine years of age with the active participation of their parents and caregivers. Its purpose is to protect the rights of children to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential.”
Policies that come under ECD includes:
a) Interim Policy for Early Childhood Development of 1996
- Definition: The Interim Policy sets out the priorities when planning for ECD policies, such as correcting past imbalances, providing equal opportunities, accessibility and affordability, as well as increasing public awareness and advocacy.
- Purpose: The Interim Policy “provides an interim policy framework for the implementation of the national ECD pilot project and policy for ECD.” (Department of Education, 1996).
b) Education White Paper 5 on Early Childhood Education of 2001
- Definition: The Education White Paper 5 puts forward the implementation of pre-school Reception Year (grade R) for children aged 5. For children aged 4 and younger, the White Paper “prioritises the development of a strategic plan for inter-sectoral collaboration, focusing our efforts on improving the quality of early learning programmes.”
- Purpose: The implementation of grade R helps to accomplish the medium term policy goal of providing all learners ten years of compulsory school education, which includes one year of early childhood development, the Reception Year. (Department of Education, 2001)
c) Children’s Act
- Definition: Children’s Act, Act No 38 of 2005 enforces the children's rights contained in the 1996 Constitution, lays out the principles regarding children's care and protection, defines the responsibilities and rights of parents, further provides for children's courts, provides for the issue of contribution, and adoption of children. Provision is also given for inter-country adoption; giving effect to the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption. Child abduction is prohibited, giving effect to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. Surrogate motherhood is provided for, new offences relating to children are created and also provides for matters connected therewith. (Government Gazette, 2006).
- Purpose: The Act provides a legislative framework in line with the Constitution, Bill of Rights and International Law and provides clarity on the type of children’s services to provided, by whom and to whom. (Proudlock & Jamieson, 2008).
Overall Evaluation of Early Childhood Development
There have been improvements in providing ECD services. According to Richter, et al. (2012) and Burns (2012) (as cited in PAN:Children, 2012),
- 87% of Households with young children have access to safe drinking water.
- 82% have electricity access
- 91% of women have the assistance of a professional when delivering their babies
- 89% of children receive immunisation by one year of age
- 83% of births are registered.
- 78% of children aged 5 years are enrolled in the Grade R (up from 39% in 2002)
- Only 35% of children aged 0 – 4 attended an ECD centre in 2011, and of these, only 29% attended a centre where ECD activities are provided.
- The rate is much lower for children living in rural areas as compared to urban ones.
- Young children of 0-2 years, children living in poverty, and children with disabilities are inaccurately represented amongst those who are excluded from formal ECCE centres. (PAN:Children, 2012).
5) Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), 1994-1996
Definition: The RDP is a policy framework that includes proposals, strategies and policy programmes, which meets basic needs, develops human resources, builds the economy, democratizes the state and society, and implements the RDP.
Purpose: The RDP aims to address the social and economic problems faced by South Africa so as to fully eradicate Apartheid and build a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist future. It also aims to improve standards of living and quality of life for people. (O’Malley, n.d.)
Evaluation
- The RDP is not very clear; it did not set priorities or assign responsibilities for the implementation of its programmes. Also, it “lacked mechanisms for inter-departmental coordination”.
- The economy was not growing at the envisioned rates, thus achievements fell behind expectations. (Chikulo, 2003)
- Although loopholes are present, the RDP has been successful in increasing access to basic needs. According to Munslow & Fitzgerald (1997), Mbeki (1998) and the Department of Welfare (2000) (as cited in Chikulo, 2003), between 1994 and 1999, 4.5 million people have gained access to portable water.
> There is now free and compulsory 10-year education;
> A total of 58,921 households have received 745,015 hectares of land in both redistribution and restitution programme; and
> Free medical care for pregnant women and children under six years of age is provided.
6) Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) Plan, 1996
Definition: The GEAR plan refers to the “basic economic macro-economic policy” of the government.
Purpose: It aims to strengthen economic development, broaden employment and redistribute income and socioeconomic opportunities in favour of the poor.
Evaluation: The GEAR has generally failed in achieving its goals of “economic growth, creation of quality jobs and redistribution towards the poor.”
- Budget deficit and inflation has been lowered significantly, however growth rate of about 3% is still insufficient to reduce unemployment, which requires 6% growth rate.
- Economic development is insufficient to reduce unemployment and unemployment remains high, especially that of youths.
- The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says that the stringent expenditure limits have limited the effectiveness of improving services to the poor, thus GEAR has not been able to reach its social development goals.
- It is said that there has been a net gain of up to 1 million jobs between 1996 and 1999, however there has been a drop of 400,000 formal sector jobs during the same time period.
- The income of the poorest 40% of the population declined by 20%. (Knight, 2001).
The implementation of this policy resulted in a drop in expenditure for the public and a significant increase in private-sector. It increased the quality of healthcare gap between the blacks and the whites, urban and rural.
- During early-post Apartheid, the South Africa Department of Treasury came up with a method for distributing tax dollars for health care. Its purpose was to bridge the gap between the public and private sector. However after the implementation of this policy, greater privatization of health care caused to a turnaround of the earlier post-apartheid development. This resulted in a less equal health care system.
- Poorer people could not afford the expensive private healthcare. As the funding for public hospitals decreased, more public hospitals closed, while there was a rise in the number of private healthcare facilities in richer provinces, enlarging the gap between the public and public sector of the healthcare system. (Norris, 2010)
- Further progress in ensuring equality in access to healthcare has been restrained by stagnant health budgets, staff losses and low staff morale. In particular, the loss of staff from the public sector has been a critical factor for public sector services to be less effective. An increasing number of public sector health workers have transferred to the private sector or overseas. In 1995, an increase in salaries failed to retain public sector health workers because the higher salaries unable to be sustained over the following years as the health budget was stagnant.
- Despite the sector’s rapid growth, recent health policies have had little emphasis on the private sector. Surveys have shown that there has been a general increase in the use of private health care (largely serve people in the higher income groups). In order to ensure better equality in the health care system, policy makers need to focus more on the regulation of the private and public sector, to achieve a fairer private-public mix. (Gilson, 2007)
7) Outcomes Based Approach
Definition: The Outcomes Based Approach refers to the 12 desired outcomes developed by the government and clarifies “what we expect to achieve, how we expect to achieve it and how we will know whether we are achieving it”.
- The 12 outcomes are:
- Improved quality of basic education
- A long and healthy life for all South Africans
- All people in South Africa are and feel safe
- Decent employment through inclusive economic growth
- A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path
- An efficient, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure network
- Vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities with food security for all
- Sustainable human settlements and improved quality of household life
- A responsive, accountable, effective and efficient local government system.
- Environmental assets and natural resources that are well protected and continually enhanced.
- Create a better South Africa and contribute to a better and safer Africa and World
- An efficient, effective and development oriented public service and an empowered, fair and inclusive citizenship
Purpose: It is designed to ensure that the government focuses on achieving improvements in life of all South Africans. (The Presidency, 2010).
Evaluation
- The result of the Outcomes Based Approach is unclear at the present moment, since the process of achieving the 12 desired outcomes is still ongoing. However, it should be noted that there have been improvements in the areas of education, health, crime rate and employment, however the desired outcome of all South Africans benefiting from the policies put forth have yet to be achieved.
8) Black Economic Employment
Definition: Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is a programme that the South African government launched after the transition of Apartheid in 1994 to redistribute assets and opportunities to previously disadvantaged groups, to resolve the economic disparities created by Apartheid policies, which had favoured white business owners.
Purpose: The government through Black Economic Empowerment policy hoped to help and benefit more black people such as to empower them to own and manage enterprises and achieve a substantial change in the racial composition of ownership and management structures (SouthAfrica.info, 2013).
Evaluation
- The Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa has failed as the black masses, who were the intended beneficiaries, did not benefit from it.
- Instead of redistributing wealth and positions to the black majority, the Black Economic Empowerment have resulted mainly in only a few individuals benefiting a lot from it the whites still own most of the big companies. (Zuma, 2010)
- The Black Economic Empowerment has also not focused sufficiently on building up the entrepreneurial skills of black people in general, but has only serve to facilitated the rise of a small black business elite. (Sibalukhulu, 2012)
- This resulted in post- Apartheid South Africa being one of the most unequal countries in the world as the inequality between the rich and the poor had widened.
- This has also resulted in more people leaving South Africa as there is no incentive to stay because they realise that the top jobs will only go to the few elites. (Mbeki, 2009)
- Thus the quality of education for the South Africans need to be improved upon to expand the pool of educated and skilled black people to take up key positions in the private sector, both as professionals and as successful entrepreneurs. (Sibalukhulu, 2012)
- High levels of educational achievement and technical training are required for highly-skilled jobs. Thus, the disadvantaged groups such as the blacks will need to acquire higher levels of training and education to be employed or to migrate from lower-skilled jobs to higher-skilled ones.
- Statistics: Among the 295 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), blacks only account for just 4 percent of chief executive officers, 2 percent of chief financial officers and 15 percent of other senior posts. In non-executive ones, blacks fare slightly better, accounting for just over a quarter of board chairmen and 36 percent of directors, but still nowhere near their share of the workforce. (The Economist, 2010)