Government vs Private Schools in South Africa | How The Department of Education Allocates Budgets

[@AshleyinAfrika]

Hi Penuel. I really enjoy your intellectually driven content. Thank you for sharing this valuable information.

[@godpenuel]

Only a pleasure, Ashley 🙏🏽❤️

[@thurancecameron]

I maintain that unless you can afford to be in the Top 10 schools, there are really good government schools out there. Just do your research.

[@godpenuel]

Fully agreed. I'd even argue that the best schools in the country are actually more-affordable government schools.

[@tsebomoloi3410]

But the amount of good government schools that offer good education is very low compared to private

[@All.Gravy96]

The government does a lot for students, if they were more efficient and less wasteful The no fee schools could be on par with the former model C schools

[@annieknowles-huth4978]

Thanks for this Penuel. Personally, I don't really mind what the school is called - I'm more interested in what they teach. I wish we would one day have a protest (as parents in this country) about Govt changing this outdated curriculum they constantly feeding to our kids, even in 2022. There's never been a single point in History where any Tom, Dick & Harry could launch a business in a few hours and immediately turn that business into a global brand with Customers from any and every part of the world. But, today we have that opportunity, it will also be there tomorrow too - and the developed countries are taking full advantage of it - creating a new millionaire every single minute, of every single hour, every single day. Unfortunately, most South Africans will never be able to take advantage of these opportunities, because they were taught incorrectly - and the curriculum wasn't designed for the future - but, for the past - and they keep doing this to millions, and millions of kids - every single year - as if they're obsessed with creating another generation of unemployed and unemployable 'factory workers' even in 4IR. What is even more sickening, is that - it's old black and white men and women in parliament - killing their own grandchildren, almost like a group of snakes eating their own eggs. This is why I was very impressed with that Cannan School in Umlazi Township. And wish we could build a lot more schools like that in this country - whatever you call them public or private.

[@godpenuel]

Thank you for this Annie. Fully concur with all your sentiments. Thank you for the heads up on the school in eMlazi... I'll look it up 🙏🏽

[@thecount_1957]

Well researched topic, very informative.

[@mpram5522]

I'm sorry I do not want a no fee school for my kids. I am willing to pay because it is clearly connected with my nature to be active in the function of the school, thus accountability and transparency. I am not a believer in free things. I do not like favors. I want to know the school leadership knowledge. I want to know what education do the teachers have. What are they bringing to the table. I want teachers who didn't just lend on the job as part of surviving, but that they enjoy and like teaching.

[@godpenuel]

Your kids are blessed to have an intentional parent like you 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@sandiletukani]

Some very factual and refreshing information there. Thanks brother. Cape Town is waiting for you.

[@lucricia_mokgolo]

Interesting content Penuel!🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@juniorxthefirst8559]

Talking from experience I think it's very crucial for funds to be allocated ethically because schools are really falling apart when you get to see how resources lack

[@jabhilekhumalo8852]

Your education in every it's so clear thank you so much bra

[@user-cy7oi5ox5f]

Great topic that I'm battling with. 😔🤦🏽‍♀️My poor son is my guinea pig shame, at his tender age of 10, he's attended about 5 schools for a term or 2, both public and private and its been a horror story for us. From over crowding in public schools, poor quality teachers, unruly learners. Moved to joburg attended a Spark School that closed down for good in 2020. They told us last minute, forcing us to homeschool last year. My son is currently going to a public school, “ex-model c” in cape town. There are mainly kids from other african countries, mostly from Zim. And it's easy to tell that the teachers don't like that. Theres no sports, no engagement with neighbouring schools, just no effort in building the overall spirit of the school. My kids are bored and underestimulated. It's just so isolated and nothing that I've experienced from a public primary school. I think we will be moving his grade 5 elsewhere, again. 🤦🏽‍♀️ I'm thinking private this time, (not a spark school though 🤦🏽‍♀️). Or a quintile 5 school, because yoh kubi shame. Or am I making a big deal for nothing? Questions I have though, Does a primary and high school have any big impact on a persons adult life? Or it is just the tertiary that matters? Also, what do you think about this homeschooling trend? How do you think it will affect the future of societies? I personally think it will cause chaos and society will have to rebuild with structure and systems again..🤦🏽‍♀️ But what do you think?

[@sandilekhumalo1054]

Primary school is more important if not more impact that tertiary. Primary school is critical building a child’s foundational knowledge in language skills, social skills and maths. At this stage the child must learn, at school and at home, the right learning habits, how to study and practice mathematics and reading habits. The child learn how to learn. If these habits are not mastered, it becomes near impossible to unlearn as they grow older.

[@tranquilsoothingsounds3334]

Good Scientific evidence for this kinda stuff is very difficult to find. I am even concerned whether it exists or not. This leaves us with everyone having their own opinions and that’s sad 😢 If anyone has a source, please so share. I believe parents should make informed decisions when it comes to their children education

[@paballo5806]

Moving Quintile 4 and 5 out of government funding makes sense, but ANC government will not allow it. Comrades like to have "control", if giving R500 subsidy to learners already paying R50 000 allows them to call those schools "government schools" they will continue to do it.

[@abeltjiane5452]

Hoërskool Vryheid(Vryheid High) is also a best performing public school

[@godpenuel]

Love it 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 I matriculated at Newcastle High School in 2003.

[@enocklehlohonolokoti1196]

Town public schools are the best not kasi public schools

[@lgizzy6335]

I'm moving my kids from the current private school, I feel like Midrand is just a money pit in so many ways including school fees. Thank you for this info

[@DinoRenald]

What schools are you considering? I want to move my kids from Free State to come live with us here. I was looking at Midrand Primary. They seem organized and they perform quite well.

[@lgizzy6335]

@@DinoRenald still looking Dino

[@tebohophuthi]

So my younger brother is in what's considered to be one of the best government high schools in the Vaal Triangle. His school fees is ±R1300 per month. The school has ±700 learners. That's about R910 000 per month. That's easily R10 000 000 per annum for this one school. What on earth do they do with that money?

[@ignetiusrapelwana2208]

Most monday's and fridays i fly to and back to Gqeberha. What interests me is that every monday when boarding u will find groups of anything between 20 and 60 highschool girls only or boys only. Dressed neatly in their uniform. Behavior on point. Turns out there r many kids who go to high schools in Eastern Cape, while staying in Johannesburg. Eastern Cape seems to have very good quintile 5 schools. I know for a fact they struggling at lower quintiles. Now I am investigating y JHB based families r taking their kids to E.C for highschool. Already thinking of my son.

[@godpenuel]

Victoria Girls Graeme College Selborne College Clarendon Girls Grey High Collegiate St Andrews DSG Kingswood A lot of top class schools in the EC. And KZN and the WC as well.

[@ignetiusrapelwana2208]

@@godpenuel Thanx. Similar experience when flying to Durban on monday mornings actually. I am definitely looking into this further if it can help my kids. Remember Eastern Cape schools r very good in sports and academia (in what i can describe as mixed race schools) They lead the country i think, u look at the number of Springbok colours across all sporting codes. Eastern Cape produces alot of national stars. My young brother (Thapelo Rapelwana) went St Johns College in Houghton. I would'nt take my child there.

[@samjnr1300]

Yeah. I've also come across Kingwood learners at the airport, it was in Jan when school were about to open.

[@godpenuel]

@@ignetiusrapelwana2208 Schools are as good as the teachers, staff, old scholars and parents.

[@edzaizvobwo]

Interesting content. Unfortunately quintile is highly correlated to outcome. I hope govt has a plan for upward mobility of schools from lower quintiles to higher ones. Again, it is unfortunate that all this is linked to the socio-economic conditions of the families. Even if a school tries to be self-reliant the communities cannot sustain the upward mobility.

[@giftmbatha524]

What are your thoughts on the higher education space. Would you say the same that SA public universities doing great should be privatised?

[@godpenuel]

Wits and UCT, as examples, almost function as private institutions. Their fees are so insanely exclusionary for the average matriculation with exemption. I don't see why governments should be supporting expensive, exclusive spaces.

[@SpencerCourtis]

...all for free, free for all - the land of milk and money ...and entitlement. Babies and more babies and children giving birth to more children...

[@bernarduscairncross2221]

Our public schools becoming secular was a terrible decision. Removing Christianity from our public institutions is having a continuous downward spiral into the pointless and useless secular abyss. With Our Christianity we had some direction, some higher purpose, some commonality. Ten Commandments, The Our Father, The Bible. The continuous betrayal of our Christian Culture and Christian Ethos is having drastic consequences for us. Christianity in our official institutions was not perfect, but my God at least we had something, we had some direction.

[@sandilekhumalo1054]

You final comment wherein you propose quantile 4 and 5 schools to be be privatised misses the mark. While it’s true that their share of funding coming from government is very low, you ommit to mention that government still pays a lions share of the salaries of the teachers and staff. Moreover, you don’t mention that these schools are built on public land using public funds. If these schools were to be privatised, the governing bodies will have to compensate the South African government for the equity that was built over many years. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the model. What we should be encouraging is for more black parents and black communities to take more ownership of our schools in our townships. We must stop looking for “good school” and rather invest in developing our existing government schools in our black communities into great schools. We must encourage black parents to take up more active roles in school governing structures and black businesses to invest in local schools. We need to see more black businesses sponsoring school soccer leagues, in much the same way white parents have done. The biggest difference between black schools and white schools is not the fees. The biggest difference is the involvement of communities in the running of the school. Many black parents always want to look for answers in white schools and we don’t want to invest in our own. This is in contrast to other communities, like Afrikaans, Indians and Muslim schools.

[@bunjoyi]

Thank you for highlighting the public education we have in the country. I am in a level 3 school in Soweto, I assist there. The past 2weeks I was in rural areas of Umthwalume in KZN teaching children music, life skills and motivating them. The children emaphandleni are so blessed with nature and natures abundance. Speaking I've quantile level 1 to 3, I witness a high school in the sugar cane farms that has one of the best matric results. And the school is practically walls 🧱 only. No windows, no doors, the floor is non existent. There are no recreational facilities a play field is also non existent. Yet this school year after year they product beautiful results. The state was there beginning of the year to recognize their achievements and promised to come back. Over 6 months later government a no show. Panuel, I have an issue and my issue makes me sick every time I think about it... Every other professional in their professional field is provided with all the necessary resources, material and a positive safe clean productive working place/environment. Public school Teachers in the educational system are known and classified as professionals in their field. Environment is known to play a key role in productivity. Whiles we contently complain about the education that is provided in schools, we also highly complain about the teachers motivation in class or at school. There is constantly a growing number of disinterested teachers who go to school just anticipating payday. Positive environment = (can/may lead to) positive productivity. My question why are professionals allowed to work in such horrible working environment like the schools in quantile 1-3 of which are over 80% of schools in South Africa? Why public schools are not looked after? Why are professionals made to work emgqonyeni. Other schools are filthy no one cares but he kids are there everyday. I see a lot everyday and the concern grows everytime ...

[@godpenuel]

Firstly, I'd like to thank you for the beautiful work you're doing... you are loved and appreciated by me 🙏🏽❤️ Secondly, I read a report stating that the major difference between good schools and bad schools (regardless of whether they are privatr or public, and regardless of how much is paid in fees) is the leadership from the top: the head of the school & the governing body. Relying on government sadly just doesn't work. If we can get more leaders in the community to invest in the school and more successful ex-scholars to give back, it would be a game-changer.