Writes Tefo Raphadu
Greater Alexandra
ANC Zonal chairperson
The late CDE Thembeni Manana coined a very interesting narrative that “Education is the new Ak 47”.
In a country like SA where inequality is at its highest, education and skill development are the only tools that can take a person out of poverty and elevate their social/economic standing in society.
As we approach the new academic year, we are faced with the challenge of whether every child’s right to education in Alex be secured.
In the previous years, Alex faced with a massive mess as schools were full due migration and late registration which fuelled the massive overcrowding we saw in our schools.
Not only is overcrowding a major challenge but the lack of furniture in no-fee paying schools also contributes to the many challenges that the Department of Basic Education is currently facing.
Last year, the school capacity vs enrollment was eclipsed, many schools in our Township were busting at the seams because of overcrowding, as many parents move children from other provinces to Gauteng due to the belief that the quality of education is greater.
For example, at one stage, Alex High whose school capacity is 1300, had over 2400 people enrolled at the school.
This mismatch doubled the teacher-student ratio as classes had over 75 students or more per class.
Secondly, a school like Bovet Primary School whose capacity is 860 had over 2300 kids enrolled at the school.
Realogile High’s capacity is 1260 but had over 2000 students enrolled there
This phenomenon was witnessed throughout schools in the Township as numbers of student capacity doubled.
In 2024 the trend of increased numbers will not be escaped and might be worse.
As the ANC in Alex, we have pushed the department to mobilise additional mobile classrooms in order to accommodate the influx of students. We recognise that this initiative won’t solve the current challenge.
The question is what is to be done as learners far surpass the required infrastructure?
As the community we need to come together and reclaim the old Nokhutula school in Marlboro that has been hijacked by squatters to assist with the school infrastructure problem we are facing. We further need to ensure that national government strengthens infrastructure and capacity in rural areas (rural development) in order to minimise the burden on our current schools.
In addition to the above, the processes of land acquisition for the people of Alexandra needs to be fast tracked as it will allow for more schools to be built in the near future.
As we embark on our respective back-to-school campaigns, let’s make sure that no child is denied the right to education.
We call upon branches to start with formulating programs and teams to live up to the Mantra of the Freedom Charter that the doors of learning and culture shall be open to all.
Maqabane, let us be the change we want to see in our community.
Failure to address the question of overcrowding will intensify the problem of drop-out rates which, in the main, affects pupils from poor households.
The issue of overcrowding is also linked to the shortage of teachers, which needs to be urgently addressed as a matter of urgency.
Our task Is not insurmountable but requires the collective effort of all members to form part of the campaign to get our kids to school.
We cannot afford to set our pupils up for failure. We must act and act now, making sure there is quality and free education in Alex.
Let us roll our sleeves and get to work in making education fashionable and indeed the ‘New Ak 47’ for the well-being of our children who will be the future leaders of our Nation.