It is reported by The Sowetan dated 15/06/2012 that at yesterday’s Department of Basic Education Press Briefing, the Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty made certain statements about the court case that Equal Education launched on norms and standards for school Infrastructure. All of these statements contain serious factual errors. Below we quote the Deputy Minister’s statements and point out the errors:
1) STATEMENT BY DEPUTY MINISTER SURTY: “There are more than 300 mud schools in Eastern Cape. Forty-nine are already being rebuilt and about 100 will be dealt with this year.”
FACTS:
There are currently 395 mud schools in the Eastern Cape (http://www.education.gov.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=dsEKriX5%2FBk%3D&tabid=93&mid=1722). It is true that 49 schools are currently being rebuilt. According to the latest status report they are between 10% and 40% complete. In a recent report to Parliament the Department stated that they are in the planning process and securing tenders but have not completed building nor delivered one school (Link: http://www.pmg.org.za/files/doc/2012/comreports/120511scappropreport.htm).
The Deputy Minister implies that this case is limited to the Eastern Cape. That is false. All nine provincial MECs are named respondents. The Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure that the campaign and case seek to secure will apply to every school in South Africa. As explained below, the numerous schools participating in the case are from all parts of the country.
2) STATEMENT BY DEPUTY MINISTER SURTY: “The court case is just meant to sensationalise the issue as they only have two schools. We have a plan to deal with the mud schools district by district.”
FACTS:
Two schools are co-applicants with EE in the case. But including in our court papers are supporting affidavits from 26 schools. These affidavits show the infrastructure problems schools face and the impact this has on teaching and learning. Each of these affidavits, submitted to the Minister months ago, is easily available (http://www.equaleducation.org.za/policy_documents/Minimum-Norms-%2526-Standards)
The Deputy Minister implies that the case is about mud schools. As is well known, this is false. Our case and our campaign have made known that out of 24 793 public ordinary schools, 3 544 schools do not have electricity supply, 2 402 schools do not have water supply, 22 304 schools do not have stocked computer centres, 11 450 schools use pit latrine toilets while 913 schools have no toilet facilities at all, 22 938 schools do not have stocked and functioning libraries, and 23 552 schools do not stocked laboratories.
The dozens of affidavits show poor infrastructure, demotivated teachers, instances of unresponsive provincial and national Departments of Basic Education, and frustrated parents and schools. Examples of overcrowding, shortages of classrooms, leaking roofs, poor sanitation, no access to libraries, science laboratories, computer facilities and deteriorating infrastructure are rife.
3)STATEMENT BY DEPUTY MINISTER SURTY: The court case is “counter-rational planning as the department had a plan to eliminate the schools over three years”.
FACTS: Bearing in mind, as already explained, that this case is about much more than mud-schools, it is worth noting that the claim that mud-schools would be eliminated is a promise that children and teachers in the Eastern Cape have heard many times before. Here are some examples:
“By the end of this year we shall ensure that there is no learner learning under a tree, mud-school or any dangerous conditions that expose learners and teachers to the elements”. President Mbeki, State of the Nationa Address, 2004
“I am confident we will eradicate mud schools in the next two financial years”.
- Eastern Cape MEC for Education, Mkhangeli Matomela, 2006
“Mud schools will be a forgotten relic by the end of 2009”.
- Eastern Cape Education MEC, Johnny Makgato, 2007
“It is my plan that the eradication of mud schools must be fast-tracked in the 2010/11 financial year.”
- Eastern Cape Education MEC, Mahlubandile Qwase 2008.
“50% of the mud schools will be rebuilt between 2007 and 2009.”
- Minister of Education Naledi Pandor, 2009
“The programme aimed at eliminating mud structures in the province is progressing well”.
- Eastern Cape Premier, Noxolo Kiviet, 2010
“By 2014 we will have eradicated all mud schools in the province”.
- Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, 2011.
“We are assisting the the Eastern Cape province with the eradication of mud schools”.
- President Jacob Zuma, 2012
Rather than platitudes and promises, what the EE campaign and court case seek is a set of binding standards – minimum norms and standards – as called for in the SA Schools Act, that will establish what constitutes a school, and will enable the Minister of Basic Education to hold provinces accountable, and enable communities to do the same. The only thing which is “counter-rational planning” is the refusal to do this. The Minister has previously promised to do so. National policy set the date for their adoption as 1 April 2011, but this was missed.
The court case brought by Equal Education was launched after engaging the Minister, Deputy Minister and Director General, in person. It also follows two years of peaceful protests such as marches of over twenty thousand learners, a sleep-in at Parliament, dozens of letters written to the Minister, thousands of post-cards, a fast by thousands of learners, and an increasing public awareness of the problem of school infrastructure. Equal Education’s campaign for school infrastructure has always been based on active citizenship, participation and exercise of our democratic rights. The campaign has been built through over years by organising young people in rural areas, townships and cities. It is highly unfortunate for Minister Surty to characterise this work as merely seeking to “sensationalise the issue” .
The statistics, quoted above, are unfortunately sensational.
Equal Education remains confident that government appreciates the seriousness of these problems, and hopes that this matter can be resolved as quickly and as amicably as possible.
For comment call Yoliswa Dwane on 072 342 7747 or 021 387 0022 or Doron Isaacs on 082 850 2111
[ENDS]
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