Username:
Password:
Forgotten? Click here
Thuthuka
  Home  
  Get Involved  
  Projects  
  Real People  
  News & Media  
  About Us  
  Contact Us  

Thuthuka Charity

The Thuthuka Charity is a not for profit organisation which combines the financial expertise of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (“SAICA”) with a charitable mission.
Education in Crisis: South Africa & UK
Education Needs & Strategy: South Africa & UK

Education in Crisis

South Africa

The education system in South Africa is in a state of crisis with a lack of support and opportunities, having given rise to a skills shortage in South Africa.

Consider this:
  • over 1.6 million scholars entered the school system in 1995.
  • In 2006 (at the end of their schooling) only just over 500,000 wrote their final school leaving exams. Approximately 337,000 passed
  • The maths exemption on the higher grade was only attained by about 25,000 students
  • of which less than 2,000 were black, with only 700 black students passing with a Grade of C and above.

UK:

The education system in the UK is also suffering, as evidenced by the publication in December 2007 of the latest OECD 2006 PISA Studies when compared to the studies conducted in 2000.
Overall 57 countries were included in the 2006 PISA studies which examined the state of education in reading, mathematics and science. What is concerning is the UK’s considerable drop in their overall position in 2006 as compared to 2000.

For more information refer to the Dcsf website.

Consider this:
  • Reading
    • 2000 ranked 8th with mean score of 523
    • 2006 ranked 17th with mean score of 495
  • Mathematics
    • 2000 ranked 9th with mean score of 529
    • 2006 ranked 24th with mean score of 495
  • Science
    • 2000 ranked 5th with mean score of 532
    • 2006 ranked 14th with mean score of 515

Education Needs & Strategy

South Africa

The current education system in South Africa is under extreme pressure, especially in the critical fields of mathematics and science. There is a grave shortage of qualified educators in these fields. Added to this, the South African Education system has introduced a new and revised curriculum, for which the educators are not yet fully prepared.

Thuthuka's education support strategies assist government's Maths, Science and Technology Project and the implementation of the new National Curriculum Statements. To this end, educator content, classroom management and motivation training is provided, while learners are given additional tuition in the critical subject areas where they may not have access to skilled teaching.

The learner support classes revolve around the provision of extensive support for mathematics, but also provide support in English, enhancing the cross-curriculum literacy of the learners.

The final leg of the learner support is the provision of career guidance and awareness, giving the learners greater opportunities and information for their future

UK

The education system in the UK is also suffering, as evidenced by the publication in December 2007 of the latest OECD 2006 PISA Studies when compared to the studies conducted in 2000.

Overall 57 countries were included in the 2006 PISA studies which examined the state of education in reading, mathematics and science. What is concerning is the UK’s considerable drop in their overall position in 2006 as compared to 2000.

As a charity, Thuthuka can assist by providing grants to other organisations which are actively involved in addressing these issues.