Education System Comparison of South Africa and Afghanistan

COMPARING THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS OF

SOUTH AFRICA AND AFGHANISTAN

SOUTH AFRICA

Located at the southern most tip of the continent of Africa, South Africa is known for it’s coastlines, safari animals in the bush and the warm culture of people who call it home. However, according to the Central Intelligence Agency, South Africa has the third highest percentage HIV/AIDS positive people in the world. The two countries with a higher percentage are located within South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (Agency, 2013) . This staggering statistic greatly influences several areas of the educational system. The people of South Africa hold education to be of great value and try to support their children in their learning.

AFGHANISTANCompletely surrounded by five other countries, Afghanistan is a place of old tradition, devout religious beliefs and yet, a newfound independence as well. It is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world (Agency, 2013). Until recently, the culture and needs of the people made education something of privilege. However, today the people of Afghanistan are working hard to make the changes needed so education can be available for all children (Open, 2005-2013).

Political Background of South Africa

South Africa was first inhabited by the British. It won independence in 1910 and was then declared a Republic government in May of 1961 (Agency, 2013). Before 1994 South Africa was a country very divided by racial lines. There were four “races”, black, white, coloured and Indian. Students were divided into schools by color, if they actually were able to attend (Naidu, 2011). Each group had there own education system and all groups didn’t now agree with the others “way” of doing things. The non-white people of South Africa believed in staying close to community and didn’t want to be influenced by European ways of education during the 1950s and 1960s. There was segregation in all areas of education from primary school to universities. This segregation, much violence and a state of emergency at times carried on South Africa for over 3 decades. Finally in the early 1990s negotiations took place among many of the fighting political parties and Apartheid (the system of racial segregation) was overthrown in 1994. The government has had three shifts in political party control since then (SouthAfrica.info, 2013). Due to the political turmoil in South Africa for much of its recent history, there education system is still greatly divided.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND OF AFGHANISTAN

The political background of Afghanistan is similar in many ways to South Africa. Both countries were originally control by British forces and won independence early in the twentieth century. Afghanistan became its own nation in August 1919. Through most of the twentieth century the country struggled amongst it’s own people for power and many political parties rose and fell. The middle of the century saw control by King Zahir Shah and the education system grew and thrived. However, when the Soviets invaded and wars broke out for much of the later part of the twentieth century, the education system in Afghanistan was nearly ruined. Many disagreed with what they felt were none Islamic teachings and practices. Teachers fled the country and many people, especially in the outer areas of the country had nothing to do with education. Then with the uprising of the Taliban in the 1990s most schools became mosque schools being educated by extremist views (Open, 2005-2013). Girls were almost nonexistent in school and women teachers were not allowed. Since the overthrow of the Taliban, the country and its many supporters of education have begun the huge task of overhauling the educational system and providing learning for all (Children, 2013).

BACKGROUND COMPARISON

Similarities:• History of great political turmoil.• Divided education systems until the end of the twentieth century.• Inequality among people groups.• New political control, less than two decades old.• Both considered Republics

Differences:• Gender inequality verses ethnicity segregation. • Internal turmoil verses conflict with other nations.• Country began to change because of overthrow of Islamic extremist group verses overthrow of racist ideas and decimation.

WORLD RANKINGSSubject South Africa Afghanistan US

Population: 48,601,098 (26th)

31,108 ,077 (40th)

3rd

Pop. Growth: 221st 41st 123rd

Economy: 26th 109th 2nd

Education Costs of GDP:

6% (38th) *1.9% (169th) 5.4%(60th)

Literacy: 86.4% 28.1% 99%

Birth Rate: 93rd 12th 146th

Death Rate: 1st 7th 87th

Avg. School Years:

13 years 8 years 17 years* Afghanistan educational spending record is from 1980, not current.

EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE

South Africa:• 2 national education departments: department of Basic Education and department of Higher Education & Training• Country broken up into 9 providences• Spending on education varies by providence• Quality of education greatly varies throughout the Countries boundaries• Primary Grades = R, 1-7th• Secondary Grades = 8-12th

• University = Higher education (1/5)• Gender Equality 87% B- 85.7 G

Primary education is required, secondary is suggested, higher education is growing in South Africa, but is very economically based amongst the providences (Ebner, 2008), (Africa, 2013). Class sizes vary greatly between areas. Often based on wealthy or poverty stricken providences.

EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE OF AFGHANISTAN

• Education is funded but Ministry of Education (government) or NOG’s (Non-governmental organizations).• Security issues around the country (mostly southern provinces) still hinder many students from attending school)• Estimated in 2005, 40% of students 6-18 still did not attend school (Open, 2005-2013).• Preschool just beginning to take shape (Interactive, 2013).• Elementary: 1-6th (7-12 yrs)•Secondary: 7-9th •High School: 10-12th

• Gender: 43.1%B 12% G

Many students in Afghanistan drop out by 6th grade. Few make it through all grades and even less go on to college (Open, 2005-2013).Estimations by several sources show 30,000 students graduating from high school. Only 1/3 of those go on to universities currently, many end up unemployed (2013).

PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC

SCHOOLS SOUTH AFRICA

• According to the Department of Education, private school attendance doubled from 1.9% to 3.9% since 2001 (Naidu, 2011).

• Private schools require much less funding due to the wide variance in the amount of students they teach (International, 2013).

• South Africa spent less than a tenth of it’s budget on education in 2012.

PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC

SCHOOLS AFGHANISTAN

• There doesn’t seem to be an accurate count of private schools in Afghanistan for several reasons (Qazi, 2010):• There weren’t

any until 8 years ago• They cost around

15$ per month, most can’t pay that.• There is still a

great deal of violence surrounding education, especially for girls.• Most are

“secular” (Najibullah, 2009).

EDUCATION COMPARISON

• South Africa spends about a tenth of it’s budget on education• Afghanistan does not have a documented amount, but they are being given a great deal of aid from outside the country (Mortenson, 2007).

• South Africa does not have a religious structure to their public education system. However, many private schools are religious.• Afghanistan’s public education us heavily influenced by the Islamic religion. Private schools are mostly “secular”, meaning do not include Islamic teachings but more focus simply on academics.

• There is complete separation of church and state within South Africa. There is really no separation in Afghanistan unless you attend a private school (Najibullah, 2009).

COMPARISONS• Political• Economic• Religion• Uniforms• Food at School• Relationships with staff• Curriculum• Funding• School Structures• Homework• Hidden Curriculum

• Any questions?

ReferencesSlide 2: Agency, C. I. (2013). South Africa. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html

Slide 3: Agency, C. I. (2013). Afghanistan. Retrieved June 16th, 2013, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html

Open, S. i. (2005-2013). Afghanistan Education History. Retrieved June 17th, 2013, from http://www.schoolisopen.org/sio/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62

Slide 4: Agency, C. I. (2013). South Africa. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html

Naidu, S. (2011). An autobiography of teaching and teacher evaluation in an apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa – Part One. http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED530235.pdf

SouthAfrica.info. (2013). South African History. from http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/history.htm#.UeNj123n9LM

Slide 5: Open, S. i. (2005-2013). Afghanistan Education History. Retrieved June 17th, 2013, from http://www.schoolisopen.org/sio/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62

Children, H. t. A. (2013). History of Educational System in Afghanistan. from http://www.helptheafghanchildren.org/pages.aspx?content=45

Slide 6: See references from slide 4 and slide 5

References Cont.Slide 7 : CIA. (2013). World Factbook. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Slide 8: Agency, C. I. (2013). South Africa. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html

Africa, I. E. A. o. S. (2013). South Africa Higher Education Facts. from http://www.ieasa.studysa.org/resources/Study_SA/Facts_Figures_section.pdf

Slide 9: Open, S. i. (2005-2013). Afghanistan Education History. Retrieved June 17th, 2013, from http://www.schoolisopen.org/sio/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62

Interactive, J. (2013). Afghan Institute of Learning. from http://www.afghaninstituteoflearning.org/preschool.html

Slide 10: Naidu, S. (2011). An autobiography of teaching and teacher evaluation in an apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa – Part One. http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED530235.pdf

International, E. (2013). South Africa: Stop students’ exodus from public schools! Retrieved June 18th, 2013, from http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/2109

Slide 11: Qazi, A. (2010). Education, Afghanistan Online. Retrieved from http://www.afghan-web.com/education/

Najibullah, F. (2009). Afghan Private Schools Seen As Sign Of Hope, Optimism, Afghanistan Online. Retrieved from http://www.afghan-web.com/education/afghanprivateschools.html

Slide 12: Mortenson, G. (2007). Three Cups of Tea. New York, NY: Penguin.

Najibullah, F. (2009). Afghan Private Schools Seen As Sign Of Hope, Optimism, Afghanistan Online. Retrieved from http://www.afghan-web.com/education/afghanprivateschools.html

Picture ReferencesPicture 1: Ebner, K. (Producer). (2008). South Africa Photography. Picture 2: Hill, J. (2004). Care.org. Retrieved June 16, 2013, from http://www.care.org/getinvolved/careswork/education.aspPicture 3: Ebner, K. (Producer). (2008). South Africa Photography. Picture 4: Bradwell, D. (2013). ADVI arts. Retrieved June 17th, 2013, from http://www.avniarts.org/photographs/southafrica/Picture 5: Ebner, K. (Producer). (2008). South Africa Photography. Picture 6: MacKenzie, B. (2013). Trust in Education. Retrieved June 19th, 2013, from http://www.trustineducation.org/our-work/schools/Picture 7: MacKenzie, B. (2013). Trust in Education. Retrieved June 19th, 2013, from http://www.trustineducation.org/our-work/schools/Picture 8: MacKenzie, B. (2013). Trust in Education. Retrieved June 19th, 2013, from http://www.trustineducation.org/our-work/schools/Picture 9: Agency, C. I. (2013). South Africa. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.htmlPicture 10: Agency, C. I. (2013). Afghanistan. Retrieved June 16th, 2013, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.htmlPicture 11: Ebner, K. (Producer). (2008). South Africa Photography. Picture 12: MacKenzie, B. (2013). Trust in Education. Retrieved June 19th, 2013, from http://www.trustineducation.org/our-work/schools/Picture 13: Ebner, K. (Producer). (2008). South Africa Photography. Picture 14: MacKenzie, B. (2013). Trust in Education. Retrieved June 19th, 2013, from http://www.trustineducation.org/our-work/schools/