As a country we are suffering from less and less people qualifying with University degrees, as costs are increasing and entry criteria is hindering access to even distance learning institutions.

I feel that we need to review our education system as a whole and rewrite it from scratch.

Pre Primary

In the begging stages of schooling we need to focus on the development of efficient reading and mathematical skills. Classes should be smaller and more intimate. Younger learners need closer attention and more assistance. The curriculum should be based on language skills and mathematics only, other subject matter such as history and geography should be introduced to learners, via reading exercises, comprehension tests and group discussions

Primary

As the learner progresses, we need to gradually increase the number of learners in a class and focus more on additional content matter. Introduce computer and typing skills and electronic based learning as well as assessment.

Secondary

By the time a learner enters Secondary School, the learner should have developed good reading, interpersonal and learning skills. This combined with good computer and research skills will allow classes to be even bigger and the learner will be able to take more responsibility for what they are learning.

From this stage a learner should be preparing to either enter into a Academic University programme or into a Technical programme.

Tertiary

Access to Tertiary Education needs to be opened up. Universities, should be accepting learners even if they did not do the best during their Secondary Schooling.

The Tertiary Education system is currently only catering for people who are already doing well and it is very difficult for someone who did not to well at a schooling level to get into.

Even distance learning institutions restrict access to courses based on school results, even when they are not providing any form of support or interaction with the learner that could possibly justify this rejection.

The learners would still need to pay for their subjects even if they don’t pass, so what do the Universities have to lose.

Government should set up incentive schemes to encourage learners to progress and subsidise those who achieve good results. State owned institutions also need to offer far more competitive and accessible rates as they are being subsidised by tax payers money any way.

Legislation

As with most things in life it starts at the top. Our Government is not actively encouraging or should I say enforcing green legislation. In my humble opinion I feel that the government should be doing more to get greener energy systems in place.

Government housing schemes, should all be fitted with Solar or Wind Powered energy units. All new building plans should not be approved unless they are implementing green energy systems as well as Grey Water management systems to harness both energy and usable water from household waste.

All products that would cause damage to our food chain need to be outlawed, this way our food chain and the environment at large are protected.

Eskom

The Government, who were dumb enough to keep Eskom as a state owned entity, need to reposition Eskom. I feel that our energy market needs to be opened up and Eskom is perfectly positioned to become a national network provider for energy transfer.

The Government should be encouraging private sector investment into energy generation using green technologies. All homes and businesses, should be given the opportunity to participate in the energy harnessing network.

Homes with green energy units, should supply excess energy back to the national grid which can then in turn be used by businesses during the work day. In the evenings when industry closes down, excess energy should be returned to the grid and made available to homes.

Eskom should be placing themselves not as energy generator, but as energy distributor. All users of the network should be able to earn based on a usage in usage out system coordinated by Eskom, so that those who need to draw extra energy from the grid will pay for it and those who provide excess will earn an income and or rebate from this.
Eskom should place itself as an Energy Network and Systems Provider.

Transport

Our country is blessed with a large workforce of welders, electricians and numerous other professionals. We need to be focusing on the development of green vehicles and green energy systems locally.

The Government could be saving and creating jobs by setting up incentive scheme for industries which have got the skills but are currently focusing on slow moving expensive product lines, such as petrol driven vehicles or conventional geysers.

With the right governance and correct application of funding, we could be positioned to provide Southern Africa with energy efficient vehicles as well as green energy.

I waited for about 20 minutes at the voting station in my ward, and Amelia didn’t wait at all, she went straight in and voted and we then went for our free “Voters Coffee” at the Wimpy.

I hope that the lack of cues does not mean that people didn’t vote at all…

Results have been streaming in and News24 and The Times have been competing for the most up to date content provider.

On arrival we were to our surprise promptly asked if we had voted and then offered a complimentary cup of coffee, which we gladly accepted.

The coffee didn’t take long, but was lukewarm when it got to us.

When we got to adding some sugar and having a sip of the warm liquid, Amelia asked me if they had forgot to add the coffee, as she was convinced they had given her a cup of warm milk.

Considering we were not paying we didn’t complain but did however think that this was not the best advert for Wimpy Coffee…