The provincial government promises a modern and growing Northern Cape, but fails to address the hurdles that hampers growth. Oversight conducted by the Democratic Alliance (DA) during the re-opening of schools yesterday confirmed that subject choices at many schools in the province remain far too limited for learners to develop their full potential.
Hoërskool Brandvlei near Calvinia is one such small school with one Grade 12 class. The subjects offered are limited to Mathematical Literacy, Business Studies, History, and Tourism. Learners are unable to pursue Mathematics, which is a prerequisite for most opportunities at higher education level. No other subjects of choice are offered as extra curriculum subjects and learners are not given the chance to pursue their specific interests.
Subject choices are also limited at the Bongani High School in Douglas and at the Pitso-Jantjie High School in Manyeding Village. While Pitso-Jantjie High School does offer Mathematics and Physical Science, learners are not incentivised to embrace the subjects.
Some schools in the province do not cluster subject choices according to the needs of potential careers or higher education opportunities.
In effect, none of the learners from these schools will be empowered to study in the fields of medicine and nursing when the latest report from the Northern Cape Department of Health confirms that vacancy rates continue to hamper medical care. Vacancy rates for professional nursing staff is at 17%, for example, while the vacancy rate for radiographers is at 23%.
Limited subject choices offered to learners, especially learners attending small schools in the rural areas, is frequently discussed in portfolio committee meetings. It cannot be that the Northern Cape Department of Education is happy to condemn learners to very limited career and life opportunities by limiting their subject choices. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Member of the Executive Council for Education and with the department as a whole.
It cannot be that the provincial government promises a modern province, but chooses to deprive learners in rural areas from the opportunities offered by a modern curriculum and modern education methods.