‘President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill into law. It seeks to transform our education system, address problems and overhaul the outdated SA Schools Act.’
In a 2021 global literacy survey conducted with 400 000 pupils, South Africa came last out of 57 countries. Not a surprising achievement when you consider that our politicians have a fondness for falsifying academic qualifications and achievements.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill into law. It seeks to transform our education system, address problems and overhaul the outdated SA Schools Act. But stiff opposition from the DA, backed by the Freedom Front Plus, regarding the language issue, threatened to bring the Government of National Unity (GNU) crashing down this past week. Afrikaans, the last cultural bastion of the white minority is a hot button issue. The legislation will test the strength of the GNU and the synergy between the ANC and the DA.
While the ANC government introduced non-fee paying schools, a national nutrition programme, free textbooks and scholar transport, the new law seeks to address curriculum standards, teacher training and development, school governance, language policies and inclusive education. Public schools are regulated by the Quintile System which categorises them according to the socio-economic status of the community they serve and the funds they receive are allocated accordingly on a scale of 1 to 5 , 1 being poor and 5 being affluent.
These days, schools are run as business entities and are honey-jar attractions for those with sticky fingers. Too much power has been given to school governing bodies. Their excessive fat needs to be trimmed drastically. Corroborative manipulation and corruption are alive in our schools, like the greedy teachers who eat lunch provided by the school feeding schemes. They first dish out their take-away containers before feeding the hungry schoolkids.
When reviewing the Employment of Educators Act, the government should also not forget about the serial malingerers and teachers who impregnate naive schoolgirls. Bullying substance abuse, emotional and psychological well-being, safety and security and freedom of religion need to be on the list.
We are fortunate that we do not suffer like American schools where mass massacres by deranged gunmen are part of the school calendar. But that does not mean that we are immune to such brutal acts.
Physical education is non-existent in our schools and should be brought back with a vengeance, with special emphasis on swimming. Children crossing rivers and make-shift bridges should be a thing of the past. So too should schools with no proper ablution facilities.
The majority ANC in the GNU cannot act in a one-sided manner; all reform initiatives must benefit the entire spectrum of the populace.
KEVIN GOVENDER | Umhlatuzana
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Daily News