Thoughts of a Matric Teacher 2.0

Congratulations to all the matriculants who have not only passed but have also achieved their version of success. I find that very important because nationally, the bar for success is quite low so really a large majority can succeed, but those who aim for the moon 🌙 and almost touch it are the ones who put in a lot more blood, sweat and tears, knowing that they have dreams that they have to achieve.

A MAJOR congratulations to all the matric teachers for getting them over the basic education finish line. We need to acknowledge that a large part of the marathon was run by prior teachers who laid the foundation to the best of their abilities. Well done to them as well.

Being a matric teacher comes with a lot of hardships that make the actual part of teaching quite difficult. An entire school’s reputation rests on these results, which comes with many strings attached, for instance, funding for low-to-no fee paying schools. That was, and probably still, my school’s greatest risk.

With the previous matric ’22 results, my school did not perform well at all. So, that meant major interventions had to be put in place to improve results and potentially not lose an entire school. Side note: always so wild how the previous matrics determine the current matrics’ future. Fortunately, we made an improvement with ’23 results, not major but still. I can’t help but think at what cost?

Thinking from my perspective and subject. This was my second attempt at being a matric teacher, which also means class of ’23,’ I taught from when they were in Grade 11. I gave more experience, time, and effort through after-school interventions, Saturday classes, and even Spring school. Through the unhappiness of the learners I tried to help, they would moan and groan at me as though I was the enemy. Some of the boys would try to physically intimidate me and would insult me under their breath. So, the cost was my well-being, physical, emotional and mental. Trying to help people who didn’t want to be helped and they went ahead to not success anyways or jump the really low bar.

On to the DBE, so this year, the Minister says that the results are stabilising and that literacy is improving. In what world, ma’am? Having been to NSC marking, I’ve seen the quality of many of those answers. I’ve experienced the low comprehension of what a regular reader would perceive as basic questions. And then I’ve seen the ‘C’ next to the % on the matric statement. What exactly is stable? What was removed from the data to make it look stable? Whose literacy are you referring to?

Back to my subject area, one learner with incomplete SBAs was included in that matric results because they still wrote the final exams, and because of that, my pass rate decreased by a small percentage. Outside of that, I’m a super proud teacher with a distinction from one of my learners, and 2 almost distinctions (1 to 3% just shy of). Some other results also surprised me in the best way. It turns out there are times when they hear you even though they pretend not to. I could do without the pretending, though, teaching is a tough job already.

Okay, so here’s to another 6 months of Grade 12 that will fly by so quickly, we will wonder where the time went. Again, only they can determine their own future. I just know that I’m unwilling to be traumatised again through intimidation and such. I do wish them all the success because I started with these kiddos since Grade 10. They have no excuses, or at least very limited. That’s 2 years of teaching experience, time, and effort plus marking experience.

To be honest, I would like a smooth year, where each individual is able to take charge of their own learning. They don’t need to be top performing, but dedication and a sense of grit, a whole lot less attitude, would be highly appreciated.

Thank you for your time. Much love and many blessings!