America spends 5.7 percent of its budget on education and South Africa spends a little less at 5.3 percent. So it's interesting to see that in South Africa the average amount of time spent in schooling (primary through secondary) is 6 years compared to the 12 years spent in schooling in America.
Even more interesting to see is the difference in enrollment of children in primary education between the US and South Africa. America has 1,621,339 children enrolled compared to SA who has 568,936! How is it that two governments that have relatively the same amount of spending on education have such drastically different enrollment rates?
For every one teacher in South Africa there are 35 students, yet in America for every one teacher there are 14 students. This means that students are receiving less focused education due to low amounts of attention that necessary for proper learning to take place.
Another question that can be asked is where this money going? Why is the quality of education so poor in South Africa, yet it's almost in equal amount to what the US spends on it's primary level education? Education is the strongest thing we have to building a functioning, thriving society. If we want a better future, we have to make sure that all the world's children should be allowed the same opportunities to better themselves.
That is really crazy that they spend nearly the same, yet children are not being educated. The teacher-pupil ratio was also interesting to me.I have been in many classes where that is exactly how it is. 40 kids and one instructor with behavioral issues and it is just terrible. It is difficult to learn in that kind of environment. Elementary children are at the age where they are going to need attention and assistance and it is nearly impossible to make it work with 40 students.
ReplyDeleteChantelle you did a great job! I cannot believe the difference between America's and South Africa's education. Like you said every child deserve to have education. Even though some countries do not value education, it is very important; It can determine the future of a person and even a country. Americans are so blessed to be able to attend school on a daily basis. It is really sad when students drop out of high school, because there are children in other countries that would love to have their opportunities. I really hope that South Africa's education will improve.
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