If you could redesign your country’s education system, what’s the first thing you’d change

Honestly, South Africa’s education system is a mess, and it’s honestly painful to watch. The gaps between rich and poor schools are ridiculous. You’ve got some kids learning in well-resourced schools with proper tech, labs, and textbooks, while others are crammed into classrooms with broken chairs, outdated books, and no access to computers.

Teachers are often overworked, underpaid, and some schools barely have the resources to function. Meanwhile, the curriculum is still this weird mix that doesn’t really prepare kids for real life or jobs—it’s like ticking boxes for the sake of exams. There’s also this massive pressure on students to pass, but no real focus on actual understanding or critical thinking.

And don’t even get me started on higher education: universities are drowning in debt, funding is inconsistent, and talented students are losing out because they can’t afford tuition. It feels like the system is designed to fail some and privilege others, rather than actually give everyone a fair shot.

If I could change one thing, it would be to level the playing field—invest in schools, teachers, and resources equally, and focus on real learning rather than just exams. Honestly, it’s a national tragedy how much potential and money is wasted every year.

Submitted October 07, 2025 at 04:25AM by Mediocre-Lack-9137 https://ift.tt/VgZFlB2