Download PDFSome children who attend public schools receive their education under poor infrastructure with a lack of teachers and amenities. However, those in private schools with mostly a good economic background receive a better quality education. I believe, if possible, it is good to send your child to these private schools. But not all parents or guardians have the power to do that.
Vivian Mnguni, a teacher from Muzomsha Primary School said, “Some of the basic lessons we learn in primary school are related to taking care of one’s health. Like the importance of hand washing, sexual health, the necessity of physical regular activity… All this is something that stays with a person all their life and is needed in the schools.”
Mr L, a fellow community member, continued by adding that, “inequality leads to major differences in the educational success (of learners).”
Recently, I found out that there are broken toilets in the schools which may cause a lot of harm to the children, which the schools will be blamed for. Hence the issue of inequality is not a matter of teaching, but rather a matter that the government needs to take seriously to address. Children from public schools don’t have to suffer just because they are not paying school fees like those of many private school learners. They are not expecting their schools to be like those in private schools but quality in public schools need to be reclaimed!
According to UNICEF, “the lack of qualified teachers inadequate teaching materials and poor sanitation are some of the reason why many children do not receive quality education even when they do go to school, children in those conditions fail to acquire applicable and quality knowledge.”
it should also be noted that the lack of education does not only arise from not having access to education and non-realisation it is also a direct consequence of poor service from our government, UNICEF underlines that, “schooling does not always lead to learning there are more non-learners in school than out of school”
There is an organisation that fights for learners’ rights, but mostly its focus has been on high school learners. Equal Education is a community membership-based organisation, “advocating for quality and equality in the South African education system.”
Its aim is to build an understanding of the public education system, while drawing attention to problems faced by public schools and their communities. Equal Education offers a way to participate and bring change in public education, and right now they are campaigning for overcrowding in the public schools around Gauteng.
This article was submitted on 08 September 2023. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
