The only precedents I can think of for this kind of school learner action are in our history books!
I stand under correction, but it would seem to be the first such mass public demonstration by school learners to challenge the post-apartheid state (and society) for failing to move urgently to address problems in the education system.
It was interesting to observe that our broadcast media paid scant attention to this historic march, focussing entirely on the staple of daily dramas played out by our politicians – COSATU vs Planning Minister Manuel, Hlophe vs ConCourt, President Zuma vs new internal coup plot, and, of course, Police Minister Mthethwa stats vs real crime stats.
This article may be the first you hear that 3000 learners took to the streets to demand libraries and books.
But more communities need to come together and take this kind of strong public action. More devastating for this country in the long run, will not be another schism in the ANC, but our failure to take collective action to repair an education system that reproduces social inequality and destroys the hopes of many children to command their own destinies.
In Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown we formed the Save Our Schools and Community Campaign to build a citizens’ movement in education. We support Equal Education’s 3000 learners who marched in Cape Town.
Closer to home, we express support to the parents of Addo Primary and DD Siwisa in Grahamstown who recently took a stand for their children and called the state and teachers to account for the dysfunctions in those schools. We have begun work with learners in the P.E northern areas and Fingo Village in Grahamstown to mobilise for better education.
We call on all concerned parents, teachers, citizens to join us in building a strong citizens’ movement that will build an education system that can save our children’s futures.
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Farouk Abrahams is the coordinator of the Eastern Cape based Save Our Schools and Community Campaign. This article was published in the Eastern Province Herald on 28 Sept 2009.
