VOA慢速英語: 南非新教育計劃，考試分數(shù)下降

Test Scores Drop in South Africa with New Education Plan
南非實施新教育計劃，考試分數(shù)下降
Every year, South African 12th grade students take a test to decide their next steps following the completion of high school. Many students were unhappy with the results of their 2014 exam. The scores were released January 5.Universities use the scores to make admissions decisions.
每年，南非12年級的學生參加考試，決定他們完成高中教育后的去向問題。很多學生對他們2014年的考試結果并不滿意。1月5號公布的分數(shù)。大學用分數(shù)來決定大學生的錄取。
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the Class of 2014pass rate was 75.8 percent. That represents a drop of almost two and one half points from the pass rate in 2013.
基礎教育部長安吉·莫特卡宣布2014年學生的大學通過率是75.8%。比2013年的通過率降低了2.5%。
Exam results argued
爭論考試結果
The meaning of the numbers quickly became a subject of political debate.
大學考試通過率很快成為一場政治爭論。
President Jacob Zuma sees the results as a sign of progress. A presidential statement said, “South Africa is especially proud of the Class of 2014 as they represent a special category of learners who sat through their exams as the country celebrated 20 years of freedom and democracy."
南非總統(tǒng)雅各布·祖瑪認為這個結果是進步的一個標志?？偨y(tǒng)發(fā)布一份聲明：“對2014級的這撥學生，南非特別引以為豪，因為他們代表一個特殊的群體，慶祝國家取得自由和民主20周年的時刻，他們通過了考試。”
However, the opposition disagreed. The Pan Africanist Congress party said it thinks the results show serious problems in South Africa's education system.
The P.A.C. also criticized President Zuma’s ruling African National Congress. The Pan Africanists said they do not think enough jobs are available for young adults who have just completed high school.
但是，反對者不贊同這一觀點。泛非主義者大會（The Pan Africanist Congress party）認為這個考試結果表明南非的教育體制存在嚴重問題。他們還批判總統(tǒng)祖馬控制著南非的國會。他們不認為社會上有那么多適合完成高中學業(yè)的年輕人的工作。
A party official said students should be able to find jobs after studying for 12years.
一個官員稱：對于上了12年學的學生來說，他們應該能找到工作。
Nombulelo Nyathela is a spokeswoman for the advocacy group Equal Education. She said the test issue is more complex than the way either political side sees it.
諾布羅·那瑟拉是宣揚公平教育的發(fā)言人。她說測試結果比政客所看到的問題要復雜。
Education struggles
教育斗爭
Ms. Nyathela said the numbers are only part of the story of education in South Africa. There is also a problem with students who leave school before grade12. About half of the students who enter grade 2 drop out of, or leave, school before grade 12.
那瑟拉認為這些通過考試的數(shù)字是南非教育改革進程的一部分。有的學生沒有完成12年的教育就輟學了。有一半的學生完成12年教育之前就離開學校了。
"We need to be careful about using the matric pass rate as the only indicator of either an improvement or … a decline in the education system.”
“在使用畢業(yè)考試合格率作為教育體制的提升或下降的唯一指示方面，我們需要認真考慮。”
It has been 20 years since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule and enforced racial separation in South Africa. The government is trying to give all its citizens an equal education. The country established a new education program in 2012.
在南非少數(shù)白人統(tǒng)治的種族隔離制度已經(jīng)結束20年了。政府試圖讓所有民眾公平接受教育。2012年，南非建立一種新的教育項目。
Students who took the 2014 test were the first to study under the program. It began when they were in grade 10. The program is designed to guide teachers on better teaching. For example, the teachers now ask more ‘high-order’ questions. These are questions that make the students think carefully about what they are learning. The new exams are based on this higher quality of teaching.
而通過2014年測驗考試的同學會成為該項目的第一批學生。這個項目在他們上10年級的時候就開始了，旨在指導老師更好地教學。例如：老師現(xiàn)在會問一些高層次的問題。這些問題會讓學生認真思考他們學習到的內容。這項新測試就是基于高水平的教育方式進行。
Angie Motshekga said students who do not pass the exam would have a chance to take it again. She said some students may need extra help after only two years of the new learning program.
安吉·莫特拉認為沒有通過考試的學生會有機會在參加考試。她說這項兩年的新的學習項目，有的學會或許需要額外的幫助。
Improvements still needed
仍然需要繼續(xù)改進
Nombulelo Nyathela said that South Africa should spend more money on improving education. She said she thinks a lack of resources is the root of the systemic problems in basic education.
諾布羅·那瑟拉表示南非應該在提升教育方面投入更多的錢。他認為缺乏資源是基礎教育體制問題的根源。
“So we definitely need schools with laboratories, schools with libraries, schools with adequate-sized classrooms, schools with fences where learners feel secure, schools with adequate teachers, so that, you know, teachers are not teaching classes of over 100 learners.”
“我們十分需要有實驗室、圖書館、空間足夠大的教室、學校還要有讓學生感到安全的圍墻，有足夠的師資力量的學校，這樣老師就不用教超過100人的一個班。”
I’m Caty Weaver.
我是凱蒂·威弗爾。
Anita Powell reported this story for VOA from Johannesburg, South Africa. Jill Robbins wrote it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
______________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
advocacy - n. the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal
indicator - n. a sign that shows the condition or existence of something
decline - n. the process of becoming worse in condition or quality
apartheid - n. a former social system in South Africa in which black people and people from other racial groups did not have the same political and economic rights as white people and were forced to live separately from white people