Mainstream Bridging Classes vs Remedial Schools in South Africa

Mainstream Schools vs Remedial Schools

What will your child benefit from more: Bridging classes in a mainstream schooling environment, or dedicated remedial schooling? Each child is different, so what is the best approach for your child? What are the key differences in these approaches? This article aims to help you to get a firm grasp on the right path for your child.

South Africa’s inclusive schooling policy

In 2014, the South African department of Education took an official stance to provide remedial programmes for students with those learning needs. It is very encouraging that the South African government has acknowledged the needs that remedial learners face. This approach is far removed from the days when no one spoke of such things.

However, the help these students need is hampered by the lack of training in remedial teaching. It is also no secret that even mainstream students in this country are not achieving the results they should be. There is much work to be done to see South Africa’s mainstream schooling producing students capable of succeeding at tertiary level. This is magnified for pupils with learning challenges.

All efforts to help remedial learners ought to be applauded

Unfortunately for many students in need of remedial help in this country, the care they receive often falls short of the ideal. Many find themselves still being left behind. This is often the case even in well-equipped private schools. Where there is not a specific focus on remedial education throughout the day, the remedial learner is often unable to catch up with their peers.

Mainstream bridging classes for the remedial learner

One of the ways to supplement the needs of remedial students is bridging classes. There are scenarios in which these classes have achieved helpful results among students who need a little extra attention to get them on track. These classes usually take place after school to help facilitate the student’s learning. They are supplementary, being done as the student continues learning in the mainstream classes. If this course of action is appealing to you, it is important to investigate the track record among children who have previously attended the bridging classes. It may be a helpful way to go for children whose learning difficulties are minor.

However, this approach means that while spending the school day in classes of peers who are progressing with their work, the remedial student is often falling behind. The bridging classes might only be four or five hours a week. It is difficult to see how a remedial learner can progress in this scenario. A student that spends about six hours or more a day in mainstream schooling is unlikely to catchup with even ten hours of remediation a week.

For the schools that offer such bridging classes within their curriculum, the problem is much the same. It may even be compounded since remedial learners miss out on curriculum work while in the remedial classes.

Having a special class for students with these challenges might be the best way to address their needs in a mainstream school. However, being in such a special class for remediation leads to other negative outcomes. The stigma of being in such a class can weigh heavily on these learners. It can also make these precious learners the target of jokes and bullying.

A remedial school is best for remedial learners

There are many reasons that remedial schools are more helpful than mainstream bridging courses.

For example, remedial schools such as Japari School in Johannesburg have classes structured around the students’ needs for remedial input. The school day is designed to address the special needs that our students have. It is not a matter of finding the time on the schedule to try and address these needs. Everything is aimed at making sure that students are taught in the specific ways in which they can effectively learn. It is not about adding an ingredient to the mix to produce results. The entire recipe is in place especially for the needs of these special students.

Each lesson at a good remedial school is taught by a professional remedial teacher. All the teachers understand your child’s needs. More than understanding the needs, a good remedial teaching and support staff has been trained to meet those needs, and to see that your child is taught in ways that mean they will grasp the content and understand the subject.

The best remedial schools have experts on hand to address the individual needs of students as well. On a regular basis, students can enjoy one-on-one teaching time. If they are struggling with a particular subject, or facet of a lesson, there is someone on hand to help them navigate that material, not as an extra lesson, but as part of the daily experience.

As we noted above, there can be stigma attached to being in a “special” class in a mainstream school. Sadly, studies seem to bear this out. But in a remedial school all the students are addressing their needs for remedial input together. This drastically minimises any stigma attached to these needs, if not outright eradicating it.

The best remedial schools cultivate camaraderie that develops between remedial students, without the pigeon-holing of any one group of students. They are all in the same boat, and are having a good time together, as their academic needs are being addressed.

Japari School is an excellent case study of the benefits of a great remedial school over bridging classes. More than eight out of ten of their pupils have performed well in mainstream high schools after being at Japari.

A remedial school is also more supportive as community than bridging classes are likely to be

Seeing learners achieve their full potential is something that requires input from their parents. A good remedial school also offers support to the parents of remedial learners. It is vital that parents know that they are not alone with the challenges they are enduring with their children.

Do not delay: Help your children achieve their best

We have seen that early intervention is best. Remedial challenges only compound as time marches on. It is very important that a pupil with difficulties can address those challenges in the shortest timeframe possible. The earlier support is received, the better their schooling career will be. More and more research shows that early remediation leads to better results. These results are not confined to primary or high school but have even success at the level of tertiary education. Whether you try out bridging classes, or investigate remedial schooling, it is best to prioritise this decision before more time passes in your child’s education.

Bibliography/Further Reading:

https://www.masters-in-special-education.com/faq/difference-special-education-remedial-education/

https://www.eduexcellence.co.za/post/things-parents-should-know-about-remedial-schooling

https://helpfulprofessor.com/remedial-education/

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/what-is-remedial-education-aims-and-challenges-1864491-2021-10-13

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4829&context=gc_etds

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5442567/

https://www.education.gov.za/Programmes/InclusiveEducation.aspx

https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/61345/17S%20Verber.pdf?sequence=17&isAllowed=y

https://eduinfosa.blogspot.com/2021/05/south-african-learners-with-specialised.html

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-remedial-classes-why-some-kids-need-dr-v-s-gayathri

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/remedial-classes-enables-child-gain-positive-impact-filling-sudhakar