Primary Education in Crisis: Why South African Schoolchildren Underachieve in Reading and MathematicsIn the past decade, the national preoccupation has been on the crisis in secondary schools. Lurking behind the intractable problem of low pass rates, the dysfunctional schools and the small number of higher grade mathematics and science graduates is the calamity in primary education. Drawing on the work of researchers in a range of fields including psychology, sociology, anthropology, linguistics, economics, the health sciences, and mathematics education, this book documents the depth and scope of the primary education crisis and provides a comprehensive and rigorous explanation of its causes. Primary education in crisis pulls together the wealth of research on health, poverty, resources, language and teaching as factors in academic achievement in reading, writing and mathematics. At the centre of the book is an analysis of the published studies that systematically document what teachers teach and fail to teach, and why it is that teaching is at the heart of the crisis in primary education. The author suggests that there are no quick fixes, but only hard choices and that, for reform to succeed, it must be evidence-based. |
What people are saying - Write a review
Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified
User Review - Flag as inappropriate
bimodal
User Review - Flag as inappropriate
Socio-economic issues play a pivotal role in the education of learners. As a society, we all cry about how bad maths is in South Africa but not much is being done to improve quality. I have written a book entitled "The Mathematical genius in You" to help kids, what have you done? Lets be proactive and do something. I also have a website www.mathsgenius.co.za which is a free maths help portal. Do something also.
Common terms and phrases
academic achievement addition analysis answer appeared areas assessment associated average better cent child classroom compared consistently curriculum Department disadvantaged distribution Durban early Economics effects English Evaluation evidence example expectations expenditure experience factors failure families findings Five former four funding given Grade Grade Six higher household impact important improved included income infections instruction International Journal knowledge language learners learning less limited linked literacy living majority materials mathematics mean mother numeracy Nutrition parents particular patterns percentage performance points poor poverty practices prevalence primary school problem questions rates reading recent relationship relatively reported rural SACMEQ sample schoolchildren scores significant social Source South Africa statistical story suggest survey teachers teaching Three understanding University Western Cape writing