#Moetapele Learner-Leader Programme

The National Development Plan (NDP) diagnostic report highlights that that 46% of learners who started grade 1 in 1999 will drop out before matric, 40% will pass matric and only 13% will qualify for university. There is a new indicator of youth Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET) and it has grown from 30-45% between 1995 and 2011.

In the 2012 internationally bench-marked grade 9 Annual National Assessments, 91.9% South African learners achieved less than 30% in the assessments. South African learners perform lower than poor countries, despite the staggering amounts of funds and efforts by the government in the education sector.

All conversations around the solution to the education system, treat learners like cattle, a group of passive recipients who are incapable of participating to provide a solution to education challenges. Clearly the youth of today, have their own complex struggle. The youth of 1976 were in high school when they stood up against an oppressive education system, which proves that high school learners are capable to contribute towards solution generation. The question is; are they aware of their central position in this issue and their ability to contribute towards the solution?

Young leaders are right in the middle of this challenge, if there is anyone to lead towards the solution, it has to be them.
Our aim is to use #Moetapele Learner-Leader Programme to conscientise young leaders about the education challenges and the role they can play through leadership within the schools.

The main issue at hand is the absence of high school learner leaders in discussions and interventions towards sustainable solutions in the education system – due to lack critical understanding of these challenges.