Learning Channel c/o Weekday Heroes

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By the end of this worksheet you should have:

Considered ideas on how to recruit role models to motivate learners.
Considered how to motivate learners to achieve well.
Considered ways of instilling respect among learners for parents or caregivers who are uneducated.
Learnt how to deal with people who are not delivering what they are paid to deliver.
Outlined the benefits of bringing expert outside organisations to assist in dealing with the issue of teenage pregnancy.
Listed organisations in your area that can help you with the issue of teenage pregnancy.
SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Audrey Mothupi, director: group human resources and corporate affairs at Liberty Life, suggested some possible solutions to the challenges faced by the staff and parents of Lehlabile Secondary School. She pointed out that when faced by challenges it was important to classify them as either controllable or external and therefore uncontrollable. The former are the challenges one should start trying to overcome. If the challenges are external, one needs to think of way of engaging with other stakeholders to overcome the problems.
1. The first problem is absenteeism due to two reasons, firstly, the unmotivated learners and lack of parental support and secondly problems with transport.
1.1 There are few role models for the young people in the community and they act in a disrespectful way towards their parents. Audrey suggests that the school looks at their past pupils who were very successful and passed matric well. Who were the role models for these learners? They could be enlisted to act as role models for the current learners. Secondly, the successful past pupils could act as role models for the current learners. How would you go about implementing a similar programme to find role models for your learners?
1.2.What other steps could be taken to motivate learners to attend school regularly and to do their best to achieve an excellent matric?
1.3. What can be done to instill respect for parents despite their lack of education?
2.The parents of the school have paid to hire a bus driver and a bus to drive the learners to school. The driver does not get the learners to school on time. The staff of the school have little control over this as they are not paying the driver.
2.1 Audrey suggests that the school meets the parents who are paying for the bus and explains the problem. Since they are paying, the driver should be accountable to them. She suggests meeting the driver and explaining the impact of his not getting learners to school on time. If this does not work, what other suggestions do you have for the principal?
3.Another challenge is the fact that the school has to negotiate with two education departments for funds for transport. Often the simplest steps are the solution. The principal should write a letter to the two departments explaining the difficulties and asking them to assist.

3.1. Write a model letter for the principal. Make sure you include all the necessary details. You might need to make some up for the purposes of this example.

3.2. Once you have written the letter assess it against the checklist below:
• Have you included all of your school’s contact details?
• Have you put a date on your letter?
• Have you addressed the letter to a particular person, using that person’s name?
• Have you checked that you have spelt the name of that person correctly?
• Does your letter have a specific subject line after the greeting, which outlines clearly and briefly what the letter is about?
• Does your letter get straight to the point about what the challenges are?
• Does it state them clearly in an unemotional way?
• Does your letter outline clearly what help is required?
• Does the letter suggest possible solutions?
• Have you asked someone to check that your letter is clear and understandable?
• Have you used white space on the page to make the letter easy to read?
• Have you ensured that there are no spelling or grammatical errors?
• Have you ended by telling the recipient what action you require and by when you need a response? (Give a specific date).

If not, rewrite it so that it conforms to the above and then submit it.
4.Teenage pregnancy is a common problem at many schools. Often the causes are societal, so it is difficult for schools to overcome this. The head of this school has given information to teenagers about avoiding pregnancy. However, Audrey suggests approaching organisations whose focus is teenage pregnancy.
4.1. What are the benefits of bringing in groups specialising in teenage pregnancy issues to speak to the learners?
4.2. List the names and contact details of organisations in your area that could assist you in a similar way.
5. Initiation schools have resulted in increased absenteeism among senior students during the winter months. Audrey suggests meeting the heads of other schools in the area that might also be affected by this problem and listing the numbers of learners and the length of time involved. This list could then be taken to the elders to discuss the impact with them.
5.1. Why is it important to have specifics of a problem when looking for solutions?
5.2. It is important to look for solutions together with the elders and to be seen to be willing to negotiate so that both sides find themselves in a win/win situation. How do you suggest this is done?
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By the end of this worksheet you should have:

SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

1. The first problem is absenteeism due to two reasons, firstly, the unmotivated learners and lack of parental support and secondly problems with transport.

2.The parents of the school have paid to hire a bus driver and a bus to drive the learners to school. The driver does not get the learners to school on time. The staff of the school have little control over this as they are not paying the driver.

3.Another challenge is the fact that the school has to negotiate with two education departments for funds for transport. Often the simplest steps are the solution. The principal should write a letter to the two departments explaining the difficulties and asking them to assist.