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SOUTIONS
Ques on 1: Why should South Africa regard increases in the unemployment rate as its biggest social
problem?
South Africa's rising unemployment rate, reaching 33.5% in Q2 of 2024, is a cri cal social issue for
several reasons:
1. Poverty and Inequality: Unemployment exacerbates poverty levels and income inequality. With
over 8.4 million unemployed individuals, more families are trapped in cycles of poverty, unable
to meet basic needs like housing, educa on, and healthcare.
2. Crime and Social Instability: High unemployment is linked to increased crime rates as people
without job prospects may turn to illegal ac vi es for survival. Social unrest and protests
become more frequent in such circumstances, contribu ng to instability.
3. Strain on Public Resources: With a larger unemployed popula on, the state must provide more
in terms of social grants and welfare programs, straining public finances and diver ng funds from
other essen al services like educa on and healthcare.
, 4. Reduced Economic Growth: High unemployment rates lead to lower consumer spending,
reducing overall demand in the economy. This creates a vicious cycle where businesses are less
incen vized to invest, further limi ng job crea on and economic growth.
5. Human Capital Erosion: Prolonged unemployment leads to skill deprecia on as people are not
engaging in produc ve work. This makes it harder for the workforce to re-enter the labor market
and reduces the country's overall human capital, impac ng long-term development.
6. Poli cal and Social Disillusionment: High unemployment creates dissa sfac on with the
government and may lead to poli cal instability, as people feel disconnected from the country's
economic progress.
Given these factors, the unemployment rate should be a top priority for South Africa as it underpins
many other social and economic challenges.
Ques on 2: Problems Facing the South African Educa on System and Solu ons
Problems:
1. Quality of Educa on: There is a significant disparity in the quality of educa on between wealthy
and poorer areas. Schools in underprivileged communi es o en lack qualified teachers, proper
infrastructure, and educa onal materials, leading to poor academic outcomes.
2. Infrastructure: Many schools, especially in rural areas, suffer from inadequate facili es, including
unsafe buildings, lack of sanita on, and insufficient access to electricity and technology.
3. Dropout Rates: High dropout rates, par cularly at the secondary level, are a major issue, o en
driven by socio-economic factors like poverty, teenage pregnancy, and the need for children to
work to support their families.
4. Curriculum Irrelevance: The curriculum is o en not aligned with the skills demanded by the
modern economy. Many students graduate without the technical or voca onal skills required to
secure employment in key sectors.
5. Teacher Shortages and Training: There is a shortage of well-trained teachers, par cularly in
subjects like mathema cs and science. Addi onally, teachers o en lack ongoing professional
development to keep up with new teaching methods or technology.
Solu ons:
1. Equitable Funding: The government should ensure that schools in poorer areas receive
adequate funding to bridge the gap in resources, teachers, and infrastructure.
2. Inves ng in Teacher Training: Teacher training programs should be enhanced, with a focus on
providing teachers with the skills needed for subjects like STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathema cs) and modern teaching techniques.
OSCAR THE TUTOR
oscardiura@gmail.com
+27737560989
for FAC MAC ECS DSC TAX QMI FIN INV BNU STA
tutorials
