To prevent children in vulnerable communities dropping out of school a three pronged intervention which involves parents, teachers and learners is needed.
This was one of the suggestions made on Tuesday (18 August 2015) by mentor/volunteers participating in Western Cape Premier Helen Zille's YearBeyond Programme.
With this programme young people wanting to take a gap year can become involved with vulnerable schools as mentors. Stellenbosch University's Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development train the volunteers in leadership skills. A number of short courses of the FVZS Institute have been adapted for this purpose.
Tuesday's event was the second leg of the YearBeyond Innovation Challenge Market Place where learners had to come up with solutions to some of the most pressing problems currently experienced at schools.
During the first leg, the mentors had to identify reasons for the high drop-out rate at school and suggest broad solutions. The aim of the second leg was that the mentors had to suggest more defined solutions. Dr Leslie van Rooi, Head of the FVZS Institute, is one of the judges of the Challenge. Zille is also one of the judges.
Also involved in the programme are a number of NGO's including Action Volunteers Africa, Shine Centre and Ikamva Youth.
One of the groups (working with Shine Centre) focused on the great damage done to a child's self-esteem when he/she is called names by teachers. They experienced that learners were divided into groups of achievers and non-achievers and this is detrimental to the healthy development of the learners.
The group suggested that learners are divided into groups with different capabilities so that they can all help each other.
The group said that active citizenship starts in the classroom.
They suggested that teachers are sensitized through intervention programmes on damaging name calling and separation can be for the learner.
Illiterate parents mostly do not have the skills to help their children dealing with challenges at school. These parents could be taught basic literacy.
Another group, working with the NGO Vulindlela, identified bullying and gangsterism as some of the main reasons for the high drop-out rates at school. They said children often join gangs to obtain a sense of fitting in.
One of their suggestions was that a "bully helpline" be set up. Those who are bullied can call the number and get help. This group had also already spoken to a social sciences graduate who is willing to intervene as a mediator.
A former gang member from the particular community has also said that he would interact with the learners in order to help them resist the lure of gangs.
The group also identified the fact that the school did not have a code of conduct as a challenge that had to be addressed.
Zille, who is studying Xhosa, was clearly impressed by the rap song one of the groups had composed to help learners remember math equations. She also sang a song she had learnt to remember Xhosa verb conjugation.
Rejeani Tiffani Jacobs, an 18-year-old mentor said that she wanted to be involved with the YearBeyond Programme because she wants to become a teacher.
"I thought this programme would give me a wonderful basis before I start my formal studies. I am really happy about the way this programme has helped to hone my leadership skills. I know that because of the experience I am gaining now, I will be a good teacher."
