I have in front of me the 2010 "Statement of Results" for the National Senior Certificate statement of a youngster who demands to study at university. They are: Afrikaans 43, English 39, mathematical literacy 38, life orientation 78, business studies 41, computer applications technology 31, life sciences 28 At the bottom of the certificate is this unbelievable statement: "The candidate qualifies for the national senior certificate and fulfils the minimum requirements...

According to the SA Education Report 2008, South Africa spends more than 5% of its Gross National Products (GDP) on education. This is above the world average. This excludes the spending on private education. In international measurements of the quality of South African education, South Africa came last in the group of 40 countries that were included in the research. The education report states : "ALL international studies in which SA...