Learners being called names by teachers. Peer pressure. Low self-esteem. Bullying. Disinterested teachers and parents.
These were some of the reasons for the high dropout rate in certain schools identified on Tuesday (23 June 2015) by young volunteers on the Western Cape's Year Beyond Programme. Their presentations at Stellenbosch University's (SU) AmaMaties Hub were part of the first leg of the Year Beyond Innovation Challenge through which they had to identify causes for dropouts and formulate possible solutions.
The Year Beyond Programme – launched last year by Premier Zille – recruits and trains bright and motivated young people who spend a year tutoring and mentoring learners in underperforming schools. This is a joint initiative of the Department of the Premier, the Western Cape Education Department and Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports in partnership with a number of NGOs including Action Volunteers Africa, the Shine Centre and Ikamva Youth.
The young volunteers are trained in leadership skills by SU's Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS) through a number of short courses. Dr Leslie van Rooi, the head of FVZS, is one of the adjudicators of the Innovation Challenge.
In a media release the WC government states: "This innovation challenge is a unique opportunity for trailblazers to share their ideas with decision-makers and for the Western Cape Government to understand the challenges through a young person's eyes.
"Going forward the mentors will be guided through the process of intervention design. They will be supported to develop a programme that achieves the outcomes of their proposed solution during the course of this year. This is an exciting way of using the experiential learning and innovative thinking of our youth mentors to inform educational and developmental initiatives."
Some of the volunteers were clearly emotional as they listed problems identified at the schools they are working with. One volunteer said that there are no positive role models at school while another said that teachers are often absent and because there is no back up, learners are left to their own devices while they should be busy with school work. Another argued that teenage pregnancy – which is a major cause of learners dropping out – is partly the result of low self-esteem and negative peer pressure.
One of the groups spoke at length about a lack of encouragement and support by teachers who often ignore bullying. Volunteer Noxolo Ntshangase said that 37% of girls and 57% of boys are involved in bullying tactics at school. However, while this is clearly a problem that needs to be addressed, many schools do not have a policy dealing with bullies and bullying.
Commenting on the presentations, Van Rooi said: "The presentations this morning clearly show that young people in South Africa want to make a difference and actively participate in processes that positively impact on our country and people. It is important to understand that volunteers do not only want to make an impact, but want to be involved in decision making in the long term which will lead to change.
"It was clear that the 8 groups really wrestled with what they see as big challenges and to present it as clear and tactile problems that will be tackled in the next round. Like the other adjudicators, I was truly impressed with the amount of thinking and doing that went into the presentations.
"It was especially clear that the groups do not believe that someone else has to make/be a difference. The focus was not on the role of government or a lack of resources. On the contrary, the focus was on the 'self', the development of the individual. We were left with the distinct impression that there will be definite and feasible solutions in the next round."
