SURPRISE GOLELA UPDATES

This is a topic that had the country stirred up last night and is one of the trending topics on Twitter and other social media platforms. The Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has revealed government plan to get learners to leave school at the age of 15 which is when they complete grade 9. Motshekga  said so in her speech at the 9th SADTU National Congress held at Nasrec, and stirred up a lot of controversy in the process: She revealed the government’s plans to allow students to leave school at the end of Grade 9, with an alternative set of qualifications. She explained that a new cycle of evaluation was being planned at strategic levels of education, culminating with the achievement of a General Education Certificate (GEC) before going onto Matric.  Students as young as 15 could legally leave school with government-approved qualifications  – two years earlier than scheduled. But why is the government  considering such a move? Critics have a...

In the year your child turns 5/6 he or she starts the routine of attending school, but at what age can a child legally be off classes and books? Plans to formalise Grade 9 as second exit point of schooling. Minister of Basic Education in South Africa  Angie Motshega revealed this at South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU's) elective conference underway at Nasrec, Johannesburg. The Department of Basic Education is working on formalising Grade 9 as one of the exit points of schooling. That means learners will be able to finish school at Grade 9 and attain a General Education Certificate. “Dealing decisively with the quality and efficiency through the implementation of standardised assessments to reduce failure, repetition, and drop-out rates, we are also working on the introduction of multiple qualifications such as the General Education Certificate before the Grade 12 exit qualification. The NDP aims for a ‘world-class assessment system’ involving rel...

It was very clear in the dark days of apartheid that we wanted a different and better society. One in which all people would be treated with dignity and respect; inequality would be eradicated or at least, seriously diminished; everyone would feel that they have equal opportunities to achieve their potential; everyone would feel safe, and enjoy the beauty of our country. What we have seen since we have become a democracy has been almost the opposite. I was one of those optimistic people who have always held out high hopes for our country, and in many ways I still do. But it is becoming more and more difficult to remain positive when you are surrounded by so much negativity. Everyday there's a case of a father who killed his child(ren). A young girl who is no where to be found. Is this the South Africa we were fighting for? Where did we go wrong as a country? Is the justice system of South Africa becoming worse and worse? What needs to be done? When will all this ...