We are going to start this one on a cheesy note. Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Dream School SA proves this true seeing as it has returned for a second season. The show returns with Vuyelwa Booi as host and it encourages drop- outs to go back to school. They are not necessarily bad kids who do not want to prosper in life, but have legitimate reasons for why they left school.
On Dream School SA, we meet 15 pupils aged 15 to 19 who explain why they quit school. The reasons range from teen pregnancies to a lack of funds. Dream School SA aims to get them back into school.
The main way of doing is by roping in celebrities to spend time with these youngsters. Whether we like it or not, celebrities are like deities to young people and as fans, they tend to hang onto their every word. As in the first season, we see some of our biggest names inspire these youngsters. While that boosts morale, we need to take into consideration that some of these celebs didn’t study to get to where they are. Take Cassper Nyovest, who’s spoken about dropping out of school. He’s the last person to convince a kid to stay in school. In fact, with the success that he’s had of late, he might be sending the opposite message.
In TV presenting and acting, some of the players are naturally talented and did not study their craft.
What Dream School SA needs is a number of professional people, especially with humble beginnings, showing how their circumstances did not hold back their dreams. We are talking doctors, teachers and even astronauts (if we have any) to speak to these youngsters. Celebrities are great in the respect that their jobs are hard to maintain so there is a level of determination that the kids can adopt, but being a celebrity should not be something to aim for. A lot of untold stories about failure lurk and all we have are the glitz and glam tales. That’s misleading.
Another positive thing about Dreams School SA is the inclusion of Khosi Jiyane, a psychologist who talks to these young people to unearth their problems. This stops audiences from assuming that only ‘naughty’ kids stay out of school.
l Dream School SA, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8.30pm on SABC2.