Seeking a better solution?

As I’m sure I have mentioned before, Masinyusane (pronounced Maa-sin-you-son-nay), primary objective is to better the lives of the New Brighton community through education.  So there are tons of things happening- my grade 10 program is just a drop in the bucket- and one of them came all together this week.  And, of course, me being the annoying devil’s advocate, challenging questioner that I am, have been struggling nit picking. Again..

So real quick- the education system here- township and town schools alike- are completely dependent on standardize tests.  Matric year, or 12^th grade, is CRAZY hectic, as your life is basically dependent on your Matric marks.  Now on paper, education is free and equal, but just like at home, I would guess that a family would rather send their student to an Edina district rather than a North East Minneapolis school.  Same here-  Because of a million financial loopholes, the township schools are by no means offering the same quality of education that the town schools do.  As I have vented about before- school just doesn’t happen at the school that I work at on a regular occasion.  And when it does happen, we offer a whole lot skimpier course than some of the more privileged schools.  Ok- you get my point-  we are at a disadvantage here.

Sooo back the my original train of thought:  One of the programs that Masinyusane works at is finding the top learners from all over New Brighton, Zwide, Kwasakale and helping the get through the hurdles of applying for college, scholarships, financial aid, housing, etc.  So we’ve been doing such.  Out of 20,000 or so kids, we found 128 that have scored the minimum requirements to apply for college.  Ok- let’s just pause here- that’s like 1% of students from the township have even the smallest hope for going to college.  They largely don’t have proper teachers, or course work, or books, or full bellies to study on.  The fact that they have made it this far blows my mind.. 

Ok I digress-  Anyway, so these students are pretty great, self-motivated, dynamic people.  So we got them all in one room, and helped them fill out the necessary forms, and tried to make their applications as strong as they can be.  The financial aid man was there hollering, trying to create the situation that they will have to go through at some official interview.  “Why isn’t your mother working?”  “Where is your father?”  “How many people live at your house?”  “Why doesn’t somebody get a job and pay for you?”  AHHHHHHHHHHH.

So then the next thing was a career assessment.  This is where Danika the challenger/endless questioner comes in.  So they take this test which prescribes for them what field of study would suit them.  So my -7 times changing my major/personal journey/figure it out as I go/take what sounds interesting- sort of path would never fly.  They take these tests which look at the their Matric scores, and what classes their high schools have offered, and generates their career path.  Ok, well I’m being harsh here.  I’m sure there is some famous dead psychologist somewhere that believed that this is the best way to help students from varying backgrounds equal their playing field.  And I’m sure that some of the University level coursework at a much higher standard than Lwandlekazi, for example.. And sure, some of them would drop out because they can’t cope.  But what happens to the student who should make a great doctor, who ends up as a mechanic because that what some career aptitude test told him he would be.  WHEN HE WAS 18!!  Or I guess the other way as well, what about the student who wants to be an artist, but they have scored marks in accounting.  Like WHAT.  Yahh yahh, it takes all kinds to make this world function.  But I guess I just like the idea of taking risks, and making mistakes, and making it work.

**I’m sure my dad is screaming at the computer as he reads this.  We need tradesmen.  We all can’t be doctors and lawyers. Yah I agree- but it makes me so irate that 128 learners who have spent their whole lives overcoming these endless struggles are now being told what they should do, based on what opportunities they have had thus far.  I know every system is in place for a reason- this particular one to help learners cope, to open career paths, and I suppose to fill a need for some understaffed fields.  But it still seems like there could be improvements to the establishment.  Somewhere.