Term used in the United States and South Africa. The term is a bit different than what it means in South Africa. Let’s take a closer look. Here are some things to consider when using the term. The first thing to understand is that no one lesson or unit is ever perfect. It’s important to recognize that every student is different and has a story to tell.
Term used in South Africa
In South Africa, students are called students because they are enrolled in school. Students are also known as matriculants and graduate students. The government of South Africa allocates the biggest portion of its budget to education. As a result, education accounts for 21% of the national budget. Further, 21% of all non-interest allocations are dedicated to education. South Africa has made progress in providing access to schooling, but still lags behind other countries in providing quality education. As a result, most young South Africans leave school with no core competencies or basic skills.
The late 20th century saw South Africa undergo a huge transformation. Prior to 1994, the country was legally dominated by a white minority. Apartheid laws banned interracial marriage and racial segregation. In addition, the government segregated towns and cities into separate residential and business zones. The government also removed blacks from the common voter’s list. Apartheid was a way for the white majority to control the black population.
In 1994, the government restructured the education system in South Africa. This created 22 new universities and technikons from 36. Ten former universities changed their names to reflect the new policy. The government also implemented the Christian National Education (CNE) scheme, which defined educational opportunities by ethnicity.
Term used in the United States
The term student is used to refer to learners from kindergarten through grade twelve in the United States. It is also used to describe a person who is serving a prison sentence. It is not used to describe a person who is serving a half-way house, home detention, or a weekend sentence.
In addition to “student,” “college student” is a common term for a person attending college or university. Students in undergraduate programs are referred to as “freshmen,” “sophomore,” “junior,” and “senior.” While these terms are commonly used in the United States, students in other countries may use them interchangeably.