Suffer The Children

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last night that government schools will be closed for a month, with the exception of matriculants who will resume classes in a weeks’ time. There was pressure all around for schools to be closed and now people are asking why private schools remain open. “Our kids are going to be disadvantaged”… “It must be nice to be rich”… “rich kids will progress to the next grades and their matriculants will get a spot at tertiary institutions”. These are valid concerns, although misdirected. A society that understands accountability would tag the so-called leaders on their social media posts. What’s the point of raising pertinent issues and questions on your Tweet if you don’t tag the president, education minister, Student Governing Bodies and the relevant unions? Consider asking if they send their kids to government schools while you at it.

Fact is, not all kids in private schools come from rich families. We all have different priorities and many parents make sacrifices. You hear of stories of domestic workers prioritizing their kid’s education, spending a bulk of their salary on tuition. A clear indication of someone who values good quality education. Some parents know the benefits are immense and endless. From being placed at the top of the list for internships and job interviews. To friendships, forged relationships, networks and access to wealthy and well-connected influential families. Such parents know that education is an investment.

Children in private schools are already catching up on lost time and the teachers are on a mission to complete the year’s syllabus, THIS YEAR. They have amended the academic calendar, holidays shortened. They are busy with assessments and they have already issued academic calendars for next year. The tuition fees are steep but you can see where your money is going and how it is spent, can’t say the same about my taxes. Which is why I am puzzled by the anger and frustrations directed at private schools. Crucified for offering services paid for? The lunacy and absurdity of it. How about asking the government to root out corruption and ensure the education budget is spent appropriately and accordingly? Private schools exist in massive numbers today because there was a gap for good quality education. You just have to look at the performances of educational service providers on the JSE. If I had a million to spare I would buy shares into one of those companies, a no-brainer as an investment.

My Humble Opinion: No child chooses to be born into a poor family, however, the sad reality is, inequality will remain and exist for as long as we have greedy politicians who continue to loot state funds. Ironic when you consider that the parents get taxed, only for the money to be looted. Money that should go towards services, infrastructure and resources. Corruption is the reason we still have pit latrines in some schools. Corruption is the reason we still have mud schools. Corruption is the reason textbooks are not delivered. Corruption is the reason we have 60 kids in a classroom built for a capacity of 20. Corruption is the reason most schools don’t have labs and libraries. Corruption is the reason kids don’t have the resources for online learning. South Africa’s education budget allocation is the highest in the continent, pointless because there is not much to show for it. Millions of kids are going to lag behind not because they are poor, but because you have greedy pigs and sloths who will never reach a point of satiety. Unless you decide on a tax revolt. Otherwise they will continue to line their pockets for as long as the kitty stays unlocked. And even if it gets locked, they will find a way to pick the lock because thieves are cunning. Hold your government accountable. Be informed, enlightened and involved so you can ask the right questions, to the right people.

“Corruption in education steals the future from the next generation”

Transparency International