A missional approach to school dropout in a poor urban area of South Africa

Abstract

This is a transdisciplinary research which deals with a missional and tangible involvement of the church in a real issue such as school dropout in order to minimise it. School dropout is an issue that negatively affects many people of a poor urban area such as the township of Soshanguve, north of Tshwane. Children who drop out of school are usually blamed by all everybody around for leaving school. Having people who dropped out of school in mind, this research started off with an inspiration from a quote from Albert Einstein that states that every human being is a genius. It was also inspired by the legacy of the church throughout history as a good news agent in restoring the dignity of people living on the margins such as school dropouts and catalysing the ideal society we would like to become. This research stresses that the building of the ideal society we would like to become requires solidarity and collaboration between all stakeholders, including those living on the margins of society such as school dropouts. The building of this society is inspired by biblical principles. The themes of solidarity and collaboration shaped the transdisciplinary nature of this research in its search to minimise school dropout. This search involved learning about external (environment, living circumstances, health, learning environment, teaching staff) and internal causes (learning disability) of school dropout from existing research findings. It also involved an interaction with the results and consequences of school dropout from a selected number of disciplines of knowledge. The results of school dropout from the disciplines of missiology, economics, development sciences and sociology were examined. They helped affirm the relevance of this research because school dropout is not allowing South Africa to develop at a desirable pace. It works against the ideal society we would like to become. In its solution seeking process, this research finally involved Christian professionals qualified in areas of social work, psychology, nursing and teaching to share their understanding of causes of school dropout and to be part of solution seeking to minimise school dropout, this research underwent. All the above-mentioned elements were put into practice in a reading club of 20 children from grade R to 4 from Soshanguve public schools who were selected because they were academically struggling. Volunteer tutors from the neighbourhood helped teach children. They were mentored by some of the Christian professional volunteers who were involved in this research. Together, we formed a partnership. This project was initiated from the stand point of our faith and Christian perspectives. Therefore, the themes of compassionate and sacrificial love and the parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30) were used regularly to encourage volunteers and children involved. This partnership was good news to beneficiaries because many of them cultivated an appetite for reading and learning which brought a sense of fulfilment in their lives. This partnership also led to the multiplication our vi service initiatives. It finally equipped our team with tools to engage people who already dropped out of school. With the latter, hopeful and humble results were found.