Its a matter of Choice

I have been caught up with two appearances on Morning Live, the most premier breakfast show in South Africa.  In particular, the first interview focused on the turnaround work I do in dysfunctional and underperforming school, leading from a presentation I made at a TeachSA conference.  The two slides which the television presenter was interested in were, (i) the fact that if we compare the results of our learners with that of Singapore, our best learners will be regarded as part of the worst learners in Singapore, and (ii) the fact that we have four types of schools namely high functioning schools (about 20%), underperforming schools (about 50%), dysfunctional schools (about 20%) and chaotic schools (about 10%).  Learners who are attending chaotic schools will be better off by staying at home, rather than going to these schools since they will only learn 'negative' (how not to do things) things in these schools.

Despite the dismal state of affairs in relation to our education results, I concluded that we can turn around these dysfunctional and underperforming schools, if we want to.  It is a matter of CHOICE!  And choice is action, not thinking or contemplating.  It is when you decide that you are no longer going to be happy, or do nothing about the state of affairs in education.  Any rationalisation of the current state, and/or finding excuses why things are they way they are, is certainly NOT A CHOICE.  It is when you start doing something - start applying your power, right or liberty to choose a different pathway, no-matter what the personal consequences will be - people will see in your action what your choice has been.  And you don't need to explain it to them, your action or even no-action will indicate to them your choice.

I link you up with the interview, whoever is interested.