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South Africa’s Cultural Influence on Education

South Africa’s Cultural Influence on Education. Melissa Blazejak Masters of Educational Technology. Introduction. South Africa had been a democratic republic for 300 years, finally ending in 1994

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South Africa’s Cultural Influence on Education

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  1. South Africa’s Cultural Influence on Education Melissa Blazejak Masters of Educational Technology

  2. Introduction • South Africa had been a democratic republic for 300 years, finally ending in 1994 • Over the last two decades, South Africa has struggled to shed the apartheid views and white domination it has previously suffered under • Now, due to the democratic language policies, there is a struggle with language in education • “By the early 2000s, language (and language usage in education) policies had failed to erase patterns of language domination and inequality “ (Napier, 2011)

  3. History • British and Dutch settlers established colonies in South Africa around 1652 • They starting mining for gold and diamonds and quickly realized the importance of the land • The British fought the Dutch for the land in the Boer war and defeated them • Once the land was theirs, they started the National Party and apartheid, a white government that separated the development of other races • Apartheid ended in 1994 and a republic was created

  4. Geography • Located at the southern tip of the African continent • It is roughly less than twice the size of Texas • Narrow coastal zone and an extensive interior plateau with altitudes ranging from 3,000-6,000 ft above sea level • The climate is semiarid and sunny during the day and cool at night • Average temperatures range from 60-68 degrees Fahrenheit • Average rainfall in South Africa is “less than 5 in. along the west coast to 40 in. or more in the east • Natural resources include gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt and natural gas www.commonwealth.org

  5. People & Society • The total population of South Africa is 48,810,427 • 79% of the people that make up South Africa are black, while the remaining percent are Caucasian or Indian/Asian • IsiZulu is the most common language spoken • 8% of the population speak English • 36% of the population are Protestant • Average age of the country is 25 years old • Low life expectancy due to AIDS

  6. Government • The chief of state and head of government are held by the same person; President Jacob Zuma • The president can appoint anyone he chooses to the cabinet • The legislative branch is a bicameral Parliament • The Parliament has powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities • The court systems are very similar to the United States; they include the Supreme Court of appeals and the High Courts, which mimic our Supreme Court

  7. Economy • South Africa’s economy is struggling just as much as the United States • The biggest industries (gold & diamonds) do not make as much money as they once did • 50% of the population is below the poverty line • 25% of the population is unemployed • South Africa produces corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products • The industry includes mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair

  8. Communication • Communication among South African residents is by far the best developed in the continent • 4 million people have main phone lines • 50 million cell phones inhabit the country • 4 million internet users • South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 4 TV stations •  SABC radio network, operates 18 stations, one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; more than 100 community-based stations extend coverage to rural areas

  9. Transportation • 567 total airports, 422 with unpaved runways • Trains and roads are vast making up 20,192 km & 362,099 km, respectively • Public transportation is quite unique because they offer minibus taxis and regular buses • Merchant marines deliver oil to the main ports: Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay

  10. Military • Military branches include South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), Joint Operations Command, Military Intelligence, South African Military Health Services • 18 years old to serve at least a two year term • Women can serve in noncombat roles

  11. Transnational Issues • Highest reported homicide rates in the world • Rates of murder were estimated to be 33.3 cases per 100,000 population, rape 38.5 cases per 100,000 and housebreaking 493.9 cases per 100,000” (Parry, Pluddemann, Louw & Leggett, 2004) • Most prevalent type of drug is marijuana followed by methaqualone (Mandrax), which is usually imported illegally from India

  12. Projects helping schools - Education Africa • Education Africa is a non-profit organization that strives to educate the poorest of the poor • This project aims to ensure that the poor are in a position to become global citizens and a competitive, productive element in the local job market • The main goal is to make all of South Africa educated, which will lead to a progressive nation that will help sustain economic growth

  13. Projects helping schools –Education Rights Project • The Education Rights Project (ERP) provides free, public and quality education to South Africans, even adults • ERP assists individuals and communities to assert and realize their right to basic education • ERP’s work combines progressive scholarship and activism by linking directly with communities and civil society organisations

  14. Projects helping schools – South African Education and Environment Project • South African Education and Environment Project (SAEP) serves children, youth and education providers in Cape Town's impoverished townships through academic, enrichment and personal development programs • SAEP aims to expand horizons, build confidence, empower & inspire the communities we serve through a range of programs at the early childhood, high school, post-matric and tertiary levels

  15. Projects helping schools – Project Literacy • Project Literacy aims to provide adult basic education and training programs to disadvantaged adults • They work with individuals, communities, industry and government • Project Literacy helps adults take control of their everyday lives through activities like banking, filling in forms, reading work instructions and voting

  16. Predictions about South Africa’s Education • I believe that South Africa will one day achieve their goal of becoming a player in the world market • This will be done through the numerous education projects the country has to offer • There are 4.7 million adults in South Africa who never went to school and are totally illiterate. A further 4.9 million adults are functionally illiterate (as they left school before grade 7)

  17. Predictions (cont.) • With the help of Education Africa, the Educational Rights Project, South African Education and Environment Project and Project Literacy the entire nation will soon one day all be literate and all feel comfortable doing everyday things like balancing a checkbook and ordering from a menu

  18. Predictions about South Africa – In General • I believe that with the education aspect aside, South Africa still has a lot of work to do to undo the damage that the apartheid government has done. • Once this tragedy has been put behind them, South Africa may become a leading country in exports, surpassing the United States and China. • Also, once the world economy picks up, so will South Africa’s own economy. Their main export is diamonds and gold, which is something only rich people can afford. When the whole world has money, they will start spending it on pricey things.

  19. Bibliography • Background on South Africa. (1985). Department of State Bulletin, 85, 8+. Retrieved from http://0- go.galegroup.com.www.consuls.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA3956326&v=2.1&u=a30ec&it=r&p =ITOF&sw=w • Binns, T., & Nel, E. (2002). Devolving development: Integrated development planning and developmental local government in post-apartheid South Africa. Regional Studies, 36(8), 921- 945. • Education africa. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.educationafrica.com/ • Education rights project. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.erp.org.za/ • Kyem, P. (2012). Is ICT the panacea to sub-saharan Africa’s development problems? Rethinking Africa’s contentious engagement with the global information society. Progress in Development Studies, 12(2-3), 231–244. • Lafon, M. (2009). The impact of language on educational access in South Africa. (Vol. 24). Falmer, Brighton: CREATE. • Nel, E. (2000). Local economic development: A review and assessment of its current status in South Africa. Urban Studies, 38(7), 1003-1024.

  20. Bibliography (cont.) • Parry, C., Pluddenmann, A., Louw, A., & Leggett, T. (2004). The 3-metros study of drugs and crime in South Africa: Findings and policy implications. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse ,30(1), 167-185. • Project literacy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.projectliteracy.org.za/ • Public transport in South Africa: Road and rail. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://myfundi.co.za/e/Public_transport_in_South_Africa:_Road_and_rail • Shain, M. (2011). Jewish cultures, identities and contingencies: reflections from the South African experience. European Review of History—Revue europe´enned’histoire, 18(1), 89-100. • Smith, I. R. (1984). The Boer War. History Today, May, 46-49. • South african education and environment project. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.saep.org/ • South africa. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookHomeInternal/139444/ • The World Factbook: South Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html

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