Sports, Education and Everything Inbetween

Are some children really more equal than others? South Africa created a deeply unequal education system over time. This was most expressed when the Nationalist government put in place 'Bantu Education'. In this system, educational inequality was ideologically, administratively, financially, geographically and overall systematically entrenched. Segregation was the basis of this system where the type and standard of education offered to one part of the population fundamentally differed to what was offered to the other. " What is the use of teaching a black child mathematics when it can not use it in practise." Henrick Verwoerd (Former minister of Native Affairs in the Apartheid Nationalist goevrnment) With this in mind, I intend to open your eyes to the notion that de-racionalising the South African education system did not solve the problem of access and quality of Education or lack thereof in South Africa. In my opinion, de-racionalising is not transformative. What is transformational is changing the structural set up of the whole schooling system, its rooted history in segregation which has become the problem of 'Black' schools, which are the majority, being schools of poverty and impoverishment both intellectually and economically. Mine is the plight of turning such schools into becones of hope therefore breaking the cycle of poverty that the majority of Africans face. "I should like to suggest to you that the cause of all the economic troubles is that we have an economic and social system which tries to maintain an equality of value between two things, which it would be better to recognize from the beginning as of unequal value." Paul Dirac Unfortunately because of this system and the ultimate results of how it has been handled, you will find that there are now two South Africas. One where if a child's parents find themselves in the top echelon of the labour market they send their children to the former 'Model C' schools which are all historically white, affluent and well set up. Then you get the rest of the parents which make up about 80% of the population who find themselves in the lower bit of the labour market that are forced to send their children to the 'free' schools that are geographically in the undesirable locations deep in the townships and have a history of little to no funding which leads to very poor education facilities. Unfortunately these two cycles have been perpetuating each other to the extent that we find it normal in South Africa, saying that is just the way it is when it should not be. Because of this we actually have higher levels of inequality and unemployment in South Africa than there was in 1994 at the time of transition. Did you know?- The two richest people in SA have more wealth than half the population put together. It is really tragic that in SA by the time a child is about 9 years old one can already tell what type of chances the child will have towards decent employment and ultimately a decent life. This cycle unfortunately has been going on for many decades and it makes one wonder why many people that are supposed to be setting new policies and empowering the impoverished seem to either turn a blind eye or just keep making decisions that just re-affirm the position of keeping this dehumanizing status quo where the idea of social mobility is a myth because of a education system. Ultimately, like Sam (the character from my previous blog), ones life chances are determined by where you are born, the race of your parents and their educational and economical standing which are all 'structural inequalities'. The probability of falling into the 50% that are unemployed between 18 years of age to 25 are very high if you find yourself in this cycle. An education system that has predetermined outcomes for a huge chunk of its citizens is surely a flawed one that was built with the intention of keeping a specific demographic of the population down for as long as possible therefore serving the purpose of a discriminatory society. This, in my opinion has to be changed. "The gap in education in this country, the unfairness of schools, is one of the great unfairness in this society." Gaston Caperton According to an independent study done by Rhodes University in 2004, 3 of the now derationalised former whites only schools which are termed 'Model C' schools, in and around Grahams Town had a pass rate of 98% and 80% of all the learners within that percentage passed with bachelors which is the highest possible qualification that allows one to go on to study towards a degree at a top university. This study then goes on to show that only 50% of the learners in the township schools passed their matric exams and only 11% of those passed with bachelors. Those numbers unfortunately are much worse on a national perspective and just further bring to light the massive inequality entrenched deep in the roots of not only the educational system but society as a whole. As an educator, I have often seen parents being turned away by schools who do not want to enroll children that are not from middle class families. In my experience, no Model C school has ever turned away a white child. Unfortunate indeed as the rest that are deemed unfit or not at the right standard for these schools are left having to find alternative schools which are usually not any good. It is as if it is assumed that a white child can not ever possibly go to school in the township so what happens is that even if they were full, space will be created for a learner of fitting demo-graphical, racial and economical standing where they would not otherwise do for an 'undesirable' child who may not be as fortunate. So unfortunately, you will find that the only competition that exists is between parents and children of colour, especially in this regard, thus setting the trend and tone for a familiar future where the same families and individuals are competing for just but a few spots in industry. The more fortunate one is, race or otherwise; the better the education...the more opportunities and the easier they are accepted and offered opportunities across all walks of social and economic South Africa. Perhaps, in some way, this explains why everyone in Sams family had a English name. The distribution of funds and facilities is unequal to the extent that the schools in developing areas which are all in either rural and/or black schools are in predicaments where they find themselves without books, decent classes and even toilets. For those who have been to South Africa before they will know all about the state of affairs that I am talking about. Hopefully this has shed a bit of light for those that have not been there nor seen the sad state of education and facilities. "The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." Sydney J. Harris Is it fair then to put all the blame on the history of the education and social system for this ongoing, never ending cycle? What role can the policy makers and enforcers play in changing the system for the better? In my opinion, the solution and action to be taken is a highly political and systematic one but while we wait for the world to change there are a few things that we can do about some of these undesirable situations. As an individual, a cooperation, a family or even a young professional we need to encourage social participation within our peers, learning to enjoy the simple pleasures of giving back. A few hours a week empowering others. From helping out in small community projects to taking up mentor-ship of one or a few youngsters in such communities. Fact is there is so much that each one of us can do and in turn we will inspire future generations to live lives that are beneficial to a wider society. Mine is the plight of turning such schools into becones of hope through sports and education hopefully breaking the cycle of poverty and helplessness caused by this dysfunctional system. What have you done today to make this world a better place?