As
we get ready to celebrate Human Rights Day on Thursday, South Africa as a
nation reflects upon and honours the men and women who laid down their lives
for a rights-based, democratic and just society.
Education
has for many years been a very important issue in South Africa, as the education
system tries to redress the inequalities of the past to ensure that all South
Africans are given an equal opportunity to become productive members of society.
With
this in mind, it is up to all of us to become passionate about education and
make a difference. Here are some of the ways that you can contribute towards
developing the human right of education, not just on one day, but throughout
the year.
Get involved
Whether
you are still at school yourself, or you have children that are attending
school, there is always an opportunity to play an active role in ensuring that
the school in your community improves and succeeds in its mandate. Students can
join student councils, parents can join school governing bodies and community
members can form voluntary groups to help upgrade schools in the area.
Encourage learning
Education
is the key to success, so the importance of learning should never be
underestimated or downplayed. Studies show that children who are supported by
their families with homework and projects are likely to perform significantly
better in academic examinations than those who do not. By showing an interest
and making sure that homework is completed on time, parents communicate the
fact that school work is important and needs to be taken seriously.
Mentorship
A
mentor is more than an adviser. A mentor provides you with wisdom, technical
knowledge, assistance, support, empathy and respect throughout, and often
beyond, your studies. Mentoring helps students understand how their ambitions
fit into graduate education, department life and career choices.
Finding
a mentor can be incredibly advantageous to learners and students above the age
of 16. The journey into adulthood can be made easier if there is a role model
available to lead by example and offer essential advice. Mentorship roles can
be fulfilled by parents, relatives, older students, teachers or lecturers or
any responsible person who would be willing to lend a guiding hand.
Push the limits
Setting
high expectations for ourselves and for others around us can be instrumental in
the development of education. Students respond to clearly set expectations.
Rather than keeping those expectations low for students with poor classroom
performance, raising them to high expectations can help bring them up to higher
levels of performance.
Additionally,
learner confidence can promote positive attitudes and behaviours that motivate
students to tackle challenging learning activities. This is particularly
important for learners entering secondary school because during these years
many students disengage in school. When students turn away from school, they
are less likely to take courses aligned with preparing them for tertiary
education, and thus their futures can be profoundly affected.
Research
has shown that students who experience academic failure in middle school have a
high likelihood of never graduating from high school. Thus, increasing
students' academic motivation during the middle school years is paramount to
ensuring they remain on the high school graduation path.
Working together
The
saying “it takes a village to build a village” holds true when it comes to
education. Communities which are cohesive and actively involved in the
provision of education often show higher levels of academic achievement than
those which are not. Social cohesion happens when there are strong and positive
relationships between people from differing backgrounds in the schools, the
workplace and other institutions within a local area. But it doesn't happen
overnight – building, promoting and sustaining community cohesion is a
long-term commitment.
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