Further Education for Unsuccessful Grades 9 to 12 School Leavers in South Africa | Chapter 03 | Current Research in Education and Social Studies Vol. 3
Statistics released by the Education
Management Information Systems (EMIS), (2002 to 2009) reveal that 60% of
learners entering Grade 9 leave school without attaining Grade 12 certificates.
These learners do not qualify for employment because employers prefer
well-trained experienced employees. A limited number (12 500 annually) of
learner ship and apprenticeship opportunities are also out of reach because
they have to compete with better-qualified candidates. High unemployment rates
(25.3%) and very high youth unemployment (48%) signifies their bleak prospects.
The poor success rate of these learners, attempting further education at FET
colleges, implies inappropriateness of the existing curricula at these colleges
to address their educational needs. Their educational foundation, primarily
based on language, mathematics and science proficiency, is insufficient for
progress in mainstream further education at schools or Further Education and
Training colleges. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the
educational situation and propose a curriculum for a specific field, which can
serve as an example for further research and establishment of appropriate
curricula over the spectrum of learner aptitudes and interests. For this
purpose, the field of engineering was selected to reduce the research to
manageable size, uniform characteristics and a specific curriculum focus.
Addressing their quest for skills and qualifications can be met with
transdisciplinary practicum-based education obviating the linguistic-logic-mathematical
predilection of mainstream education.
Author(s) Details
A. J. Klinck
School of Mathematics,
Natural Sciences and Technology Education, University of the Free State, South
Africa.
G. P. Combrinck
School of Mathematics,
Natural Sciences and Technology Education, University of the Free State, South
Africa.
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