Charter schools in the U.S
Watch the following video about charter schools in the U.S.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_htSPGAY7I
Then watch the video about the education system in South Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25ll4iB74a4
What are some of the challenges that are in both educational systems? What are the various solutions people have offered and how are they working out? What are the challenges that are unique to South Africa and why do you think that it is unique?
Sample Solution
In the United States, charter schools have been steadily increasing in popularity, but there are still many challenges associated with them. Many see charter schools as a way to inject competition and innovation into public education (Charterschoolfacts.org, 2018). However, some charters are criticized for not being held accountable for student achievement or fraudulent use of funds (Charter School Facts, 2018). There is also an ongoing debate about how much autonomy these schools should have when it comes to hiring and curriculum decisions (Charter School Facts, 2018). Additionally, there is evidence that charters can lead to segregation as they tend to cater to more affluent students while disadvantaging those from low-income single parent households (Christensen Institute, 2017).
The South African educational system faces its own set of challenges. Decades of inequality stemming from apartheid has resulted in a two-tiered system where wealthy children attend mostly white private schools which receive the majority of resources and poorer black children attend overcrowded public schools without access to proper facilities or resources (South African History Online 2019). This has left them at a significant disadvantage in terms of academic performance compared to their wealthier counterparts (Livesay & Mason 2017). Another issue facing South African schools is the high dropout rate due to poverty; nearly 2 million learners dropped out between 2012 and 2016 due partly to school fees that many struggling families cannot afford (Garman 2019). Finally, teacher shortages have plagued South Africa’s education system since 1994 leading teachers are overworked with larger than average class sizes resulting in poor student outcomes nationwide (Maphoto 2019) .
Despite their considerable differences geographically and culturally speaking both countries face issues related to quality control and resources distribution within their respective educational systems. Whether they be charter school regulations or tuition fees imposed on already economically struggling parents both offer significant barriers for some families trying provide adequate schooling opportunities for their children.
