In terms of the national policy on education, learners in the intermediate phase (grade 4-6) and senior phase (grade 7-9) can’t fail more than twice in a particular phase. This is according to Paddy Atwell, head of the communications at Western Cape Education Department.
The national department of education has been accused of pushing through non-performing students even though they not ready. Atwell says: “the aim is to ensure that learners are in the same age bracket in that particular phase.
Now the question lies if this policy is ideal to progress learners to the next grade even when they are not ready for it? Some learners know this policy to be effective and so, they pay no mind to their studies, knowing very well just a repeat of the same grade gives them an automatic pass the next year.
This policy will cripple the education system and its effort in producing quality education. Questioning if the progressed learners really showed any effort towards their school work, and taking away merit from the learners that put in the effort and hard work to pass to the next grade.
Advocating for the scraping of this policy is the Western Cape Education Minister Debbie Schafer. She has been opposing this policy on progression of learners and has proposed for the ability to regulate the progression. Which is a more fair option to consider?
Learners that are progressed to the next grade should be learners that have tried their level best, learners that have shown progress throughout the terms of the year and learners who have proved to their educators that they will cope with the next grade. It is unfair to push learners to the next grade just because of the worry of having learners in the same group age. When they honestly could have learned from their mistakes or received better attention in class for them to meet the passing mark or progression standards.
It is policies like these that fail learners and the education system. Learners should be motivated to do well and achieve their dreams. To be taught that sense of pride of seeing their report card at the end of the year and being proud of themselves. For those who really struggled with the grade but proved to their educators that they are worthy of progression be exempted from fail.
Not leaving the learners that performed below progression standards to dry out or felt to feel like failures, leading them to drop out because of not fitting into the age group of the phase. They should be given extra attention, with the help of the Department finding ways to assist such learners, not setting them up for further failure.
