Did you hear that Grade R is compulsory now?
You could face a fine or imprisonment if you do not send your kids to Grade R...
In all honesty, we grew up without Grade R, so the differences in terms such as Grade R, Grade RR, and Preschool can be something of another language to us. But what we do know is that there is an importance to exposing children to school from a young age.
The main premise behind that is because in a time where we all can get lonely and feel alone, we wouldn't want that for a child. Children thrive around other children, and for them to be exposed to the most ideal learning environments is what will set the foundation for their futures.
On that note, we know that things have not been easy for many parents this year. With many of them losing their jobs and not being able to pay school fees, it can be tough to prioritise between school and food.
So there is a level of understanding when it comes to some parents choosing not to send their kids to school in Grade R. But all that is changing now, as the Department of Education has announced that it is compulsory for children to go to school from Grade R, where previously it was Grade 1.
"Anyone who blocks a child from attending school without just cause including parents, schools or governing bodies would be guilty of an offence and face a possible fine and/or imprisonment." (IOL)
This new bill has been introduced as a way of addressing school dropout levels. But we think it is equally just as important for the bill to address the communities as to the reasons behind dropouts, shouldn't that be a focus of interest?
"Education expert, Professor Mary Metcalf of Wits University, welcomed the bill. But she said that it is not enough to tackle the issue of dropout rates in schools." (IOL)
This provision in the bill doesn’t go far enough, because it says that if the learner is absent from school for three days consecutively the principal must act, that’s good but it’s not enough. Dropout doesn’t happen suddenly, dropout happens because learners become disengaged from school and that means sporadic attendance and that means you might miss a day every day, and so forth.
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This is sad to hear because for the most part, there are several factors to consider when it comes to dropout levels, disengagement shouldn't be on the list. But it can't be easy to cater for every child's needs in the same way.
It's like radio, finding a topic that pleases everyone is never something everyone will win at. But making sure the conversation is still worthy for our audience and the voice is engaging, that is what it's all about.
We hope that all parents and caregivers make the best decisions they can in their circumstances. Let's start the new year off on a great note...
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