Billy? Jerry? John? Marry? Lebo? Sipho? Thabo? Sizwe? So many names to pick from, anyway I’m finding it really hard to pick a name for the following story that is about to be shared. Ok let’s go with Charlie because of his mention in the “Chocolate factory” movie.

#GeniusFridays, how are you spending your Friday?

Back to Charlie, Charlie goes to gym three times a week and of those days in a week he visits McDonalds 4 times, grabs some ice cream with his girl 3 times a week not forgetting those Wakaberry frozen yoghurt moments on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Let the rookie brain freeze moments sink in.

With this being the case, Charlie still expects to have that six pack ready come spring with all that fat he takes in and only 3 days of taking pictures and benching 10kgs in the gym. Really dude? Let’s see what Kimye have to say.

After reading the above I don’t think there’s need to define what a flawed system is. Yet we see it every day, we choose to let it hide out in plain sight, talk about turning a blind eye.

Our education system? Yep the very same system that should have taught you genius from non-genius. Our education system is not designed for the environment in which it is expected to operate in. By this I am not talking about the quality of the education, that’s a discussion for another day, what I’m referring to is the practicality of its timing or rather the time taken to acquire academic and technical skills in our country. The beloved South Africa.

The average university graduate is expected to take a minimum 3 years to acquire a degree after a minimum 12 years in primary & high school. That means the 1^st 15 years, without any failing, is spent trying to skill a single individual only to be told after that whole process that they are not skilled enough for certain roles and responsibilities, so an additional 3-5 years in the work environment is needed before we can say they possess value adding skills to ‘go live’.

But let us consider possible reasons as to why this happens:

All figures where collected from: http://www.info.gov.za/aboutsa/school_cal/2013.html

 

• Our system says there is no schooling on weekends (let’s do the math) this equates to: (2days a week) X (4 weeks a month) X (12 months a year) X (15 years) = 1440 days.
• Then we have public holidays (12days a year X 15 years)= 180 days
• Then we have school holidays [(Mar/Apr ±14 days) +(Jun/Jul ±15 days)+(Sep/Oct ±6 days)+(Dec/Jan ±22days)] = (57 days a year) X (15 years)= 855 days
• I can sense some of you going really?? Yes really!! 855 days!!

 

So based on the quantitative view of the system (1440+180+855) =2475 days (i.e. ±7 years), out of 15 years of schooling only 8 years where actually dedicated to education the rest was all unproductive years. I don’t know about you but I think Charlie spend most of those days eating junk and chasing non value adding traits. Sipho? Well it was the usual balleritis story with him, dude needs help.

In a country where we say the majority of the work force is uneducated, can we really afford to let the people, those who wish to be educated, waste 7 years of their lives?

In addition can you see that the system is perhaps designed to exclude lots of people from the education which it promotes?

Understand that throughout the process someone has to foot the bill of the learner, who is unproductive for 7 years. For those who study far from home accommodation and transports become a financial nightmare, never mind the cost of the education itself.

Simply put the problem with the quality of the South African workforce can never be solved under this system of laziness.

This discussion is actually 30 pages long, but here ay Genius Level we know that most don’t like reading much so we summarised.

We placing this here not so you can sound smart during a night out, but because we don’t know anyone who can help change this situation & I believe you care enough to send it to all your associates, and they can pass it on. And somehow it may find its way to the right ears. Educate yourself even when you aren’t placed in a classroom environment. Genius Level.

And oh Hi, I’m Kholofelo Molapo and I believe in adding value even through those vacant 7 years.

GENIUS LEVEL ADDING VALUE APPROACH: THE DO IT YOURSELF METHOD!!

Article by Kholofelo Molapo @Kholo458 and edited by kagiso maloma.

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