The endangered subject of quality Visual Art education

Abstract

Quality and meaningful Visual Art education provides opportunities for learning and holistic development to all children at school. Research projects in this regard highlight the problems that teachers experience in this field. The contribution of higher education in the training of educators to provide for teachers in Visual Art education is important. Curricula of four local and one overseas university for the BEd training in the
Arts are compared and discussed. The importance of literacy and numeracy at schoollevel is not disregarded, but the fact that visual literacy is an important part of being literate is emphasised. The current shortage of well-trained Visual Art educators is a challenge. Overcoming this challenge will provide all members of future generations in schools with the learning opportunities that are available through quality Visual Art
education. The impact of several reviews of the South African Educational system and the effect thereof on Visual Art education are discussed.