Today learners across the country took part in a Day of School Pride. It forms part of Equal Education’s 10 Days of Action that will continue until Wednesday, 21 March 2012. Equal Education (EE) is campaigning for minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure.
The 10 Days of Action follow EE’s announcement that it has initiated legal action against the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, and the nine provincial MECs for Education. As EE Coordinator Doron Isaacs explained last week at a press conference: “The papers seek an order compelling Minister Motshekga to prescribe minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure. This is the most far-reaching court case about the right to basic education to have been launched in democratic South Africa.” School infrastructure is a vital component of a basic education. School infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, is in an appalling state. Almost 3,600 schools do not have electricity. 92% of schools do not have a functioning library and in the Eastern Cape there are still 395 mud schools.
Today learners helped clean up their schools, clear away litter and helped tend the school gardens. Learners at Maceba Secondary in Nquthu, KwaZulu Natal, helped to sweep corridors, waters plants and dig irrigation holes in the school gardens.
Surprise Satula from Kensington High School said: “Everyone taking part was excited about what was going on. We want to help get minimum norms and standards for our schools. Learners have a big responsibility to look after the resources that the government gives us. We can’t let them get broken because then we won’t be able to get a good education.”
Tomorrow learners will go door-to-door in their local communities after school to tell people about the campaign for minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure.
For more information please contact Yoliswa Dwane 072 342 7747 or 021 387 0022/3 or Brad Brockman/ 072 267 8489
