The Education of the 21st Century

As educational leaders, classroom teachers, students and parents will agree, 21st century teaching carries with it acomplicated mix of challenges and opportunities. Challenges include the issues of teacher turnover, accountability, changing student population and student expectations, mounting budget pressures, and intense demand to build students’ 21st century skills.

 

John Clause said "We want our teachers to be highly effective. A teacher can be highly qualified but still not very effective. That’s why we had to start thinking more comprehensively about how we are going to step into a digital learning environment to strengthen our professional development and support."

Quality of South African schools

The known barriers to quality education were also

cited in the  Rooyen, referred to the lack of parental support as

an added barrier to the attainment of quality

education and good matric results. She wrote that

South Africa’s education system as well as some

parents are failing their black children, who are

matric results were once again marked by a striking

shortage of black pupils among the country’s top

achievers. The majority of those with multiple

distinctions were mostly white with a fair spread of

Indian candidates.

My intention and commitment as a prospective Mathematics teacher

I as a mathematics future teacher intend to provide education that is fair and will help my students prepare for their future and become successful. Before the class my intention is to write a lesson plan with some objectives, to teach learners to be independent and become critical thinkers.

I as a teacher hahve to act in a value free way, for I education should inform certain values and embracess commitment to:

• Respect for persons.
• The promotion of well-being.
• Truth.
• Democracy.
• Fairness and equality.

Educational revolution in South Africa

Over the last decade, consensus has grown about the kinds of changes needed if learning is to occur seriously,The Convention on the Rights of the Child guides us towards a more child centred model of teaching and learning, one in which students participate actively, thinking and solving problems for themselves. Learning for life in the 21st century requires equipping

children with a basic education in literacy and numeracy, as well as the more advanced, complex skills for living that can serve as the foundation for life. 

If the success of education is to be gauged by what and how children learn, better ways must be found to measure the quality and relevance of education.