A 17 year old’s view on Education in SA
Education in our country is divided into categories characterised by the availability of resources. We have schools that lack no resources at all while we also have underprivileged schools that lack at most any resource required. Education in our country is distributed unevenly. Other learners have fully resourced schools while others even lack a roof to call it a school. They learn under unsafe walls that can collapse at anytime. As I think of this uneven distribution, I wonder what the future of our country will be like. It’s tough.
Someone may ask questions like “Who is responsible for this uneven distribution of education?” Or “where are the people who are supposed to make sure that the schools are well developed?” and find different answers. South Africa is the biggest investor in education than any other African country, but we still have situations like these. I’m asking myself questions like “Are our leaders from local municipalities keeping the money for themselves or is the budget a false statement?” It’s intricate but it is clear that something is wrong regarding this issue.
At least something has been done regarding our education as compared to the previous years. Back in those years we had situations whereby a parent/guardian could not afford to pay school fees and learners were forced to go and stay at home. The government solved that issue. Rural and underprivileged schools do not pay fees and everyone has the right to basic education. Some of those who could not afford school fees are grateful for this and are willing to do whatever it takes to create bright futures for themselves.
We might be complaining about the schools lacking resources while other schools have resources, but we have to try and appreciate what we have and work on what we don’t have. It seems like many of those in rural areas use this issue of lacking resources as a reason for not studying. It’s true that rural schools have no sufficient resources but I see no point in using this as a reason not to study. We have learners that obtain ”A” symbols coming from the rural schools. In terms of tertiary institutions, we have lots of bursaries, scholarships and study loans which also contribute to the free education in our country. Education is almost free in our country except for private schools.
Our education in South Africa is not the best of them all and also not the worst of them all. I believe if we can put more effort in it something great can be achieved. We have to accept the little that we have and use it to get the big that we wish for. As young South Africans we can do this.
Meshack Mtshweni
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