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How do South Africans feel about education, schools and the benefits of matric in South Africa?
Research Surveys, in conjunction with e-tv, conducted a telephone study amongst South Africans in metropolitan areas probing their attitudes and perceptions about the state of education in South Africa.
In a telephone study conducted by RS, South Africa's leading marketing insights company, in conjunction with e-tv for their "Judge for Yourself" programme (Mondays at 19h30) amongst a sample of 500 SA adults in metropolitan areas who had access to a landline telephone at the beginning of January 2005, attitudes and perceptions of South Africans about the state of education in South Africa were probed.
Some harsh words about education in South Africa
People in the sample interviewed had quite harsh things to say about the state of education in South Africa. People were asked to agree or disagree with each of the following:
Agree - 62%
Disagree - 33%
Don't know - 4%
Agree - 61%
Disagree - 34%
Don't know - 5%
A possible reason for this perception is contained in the majority view that government has changed direction too often:
Agree - 76%
Disagree - 14%
Don't know - 9%
Looking back over the last ten years, though, there is more ambivalence:
Agree - 48%
Disagree - 46%
Don't know - 6%
Very often, when looking at such issues, South Africa's past means that responses are different for different race groups. This does apply here, but there are perhaps surprising levels of agreement across different race groups on a few of these issues: surprising in the light of the appalling state of the education system under apartheid:
What is the net result of these views?
First, many people feel that the children of government ministers should be in state schools:
Agree - 54%
Disagree - 42%
Don't know - 4%
This view was held by two out of three Indians and coloureds, and about a half of blacks and whites. It would be interesting to know how many ministers do send their children to state schools. Secondly, by a two-to-one ratio, people voted to send their own children to a private school:
Agree - 64%
Disagree - 32%
Don't know - 4%
This is the majority view of all race groups, especially coloureds and whites: seven out of ten coloureds and whites voted this way, compared with 55% of blacks and Indians.
Perhaps most alarmingly (though this is also a function of the unemployment situation and the intense competition for jobs that is a result), people do not place much value on a matric certificate when it comes to getting a job - and this was a view echoed by all race groups to much the same extent:
Agree - 76%
Disagree - 20%
Don't know - 3%
In summary
Given the shortage of skills in South Africa, these views are of considerable concern. Although there is some very good news in the feelings about the improvement in schools over the last ten years, especially amongst blacks, it is clear that considerable improvement is still necessary. There is a clear perception that government has changed direction too often and people may feel that it is time for strong direction, consolidation and clarity. The issue of private vs. state schools is contentious, and people feel that government ministers should show confidence in the system that they run by sending their own children to government schools.
The lack of confidence in a matric certificate is very concerning and has serious long-term implications for the economy.
Kantar is the world's leading evidence-based insights and consulting company. We have a complete, unique and rounded understanding of how people think, feel and act; globally and locally in over 90 markets. By combining the deep expertise of our people, our data resources and benchmarks, our innovative analytics and technology we help our clients understand people and inspire growth.
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