Taking A Stand!

The only thing left to do is take a stand. With all the facts and figures in place it's up to us as fellow humans to support and fight for what is right. Whether it's rallying in front of the capital or petitioning your government, every human being is entitled the right to learn to better themselves.

It's funny that everyone knows that education is a fundamental part of growing up, yet people are still so blind to what is going on. 

This past week South African youth took to the streets outside Parliament in Cape Town to protest yet again. "The schools in the Eastern Cape are dire," Bayanda, a COSAT junior, said in a blog titled "School Year Blog". "I don't think the Department of Basic Education is realizing the seriousness."

Students gather under the direction of Equal Education in order to bring awareness about the current learning conditions in South African schools. Equal Education is trying to force the government to take action and responsibility for what's going on.

This is one of the most important things that needs to voiced, especially to government. Change starts with an individual but skyrockets when someone with power takes a stand. Could you imagine having the power to change lives and not using it? Me either.

The time to take a stand is NOW. The future of our planet depends on it.

"Be the change you wish to see in this world" -Ghandi

One of my fellow students made a comment on a post of mine about the education that is provided in the United States and whether it's being taken full advantage of. It got me thinking a lot about the opportunities provided to us here and whether we use them to the best of our ability.

America spends 5.7 percent of its budget on education and South Africa spends a little less at 5.3 percent. So it's interesting to see that in South Africa the average amount of time spent in schooling (primary through secondary) is 6 years compared to the 12 years spent in schooling in America.

Even more interesting to see is the difference in enrollment of children in primary education between the US and South Africa. America has 1,621,339 children enrolled compared to SA who has 568,936! How is it that two governments that have relatively the same amount of spending on education have such drastically different enrollment rates?

For every one teacher in South Africa there are 35 students, yet in America for every one teacher there are 14 students. This means that students are receiving less focused education due to low amounts of attention that necessary for proper learning to take place.

Another question that can be asked is where this money going? Why is the quality of education so poor  in South Africa, yet it's almost in equal amount to what the US spends on it's primary level education? Education is the strongest thing we have to building a functioning, thriving society. If we want a better future, we have to make sure that all the world's children should be allowed the same opportunities to better themselves.

Schools Must Comply With Learner's Rights!

America Vs South Africa: Education rights?

What would you do to help fix the education problem?

Young Voices: Thoughts on the education crisis

Who better to ask what should be done to fix the problem, then those who are suffering from it the most? What's the consensus?

Build more schools.

In September 2012, South African government announced details in a press release of the Western Cape Education Department's new infrastructure plan for the 2013/14 -2015/16 period. "The plan includes, amongst other things, the building of 46 replacement schools and the roll-out of 4 replacement classroom projects within a three year period" (South African Government).

Oprah started the Building A Dream project which created The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy which provides an educational environment to academically gifted young women who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

This is one huge leap in the right direction for South Africa. This foundation creates opportunities for young women to better themselves through education and exploration. This is something that is much needed seeing as women are more likely to be subjected to prostitution, slavery and things of that manner. 

Building more schools may seem like a tedious task, but it is one that needs serious consideration. Institutions like The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy allow children to learn the proper skills needed to become functioning adults in society. It will teach them how to be productive and sociologically accepted in their community.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Y8TZH_PBQ

http://allafrica.com/stories/201306120660.html?

Things Are Easier Said Then Done

South Africa values education to the fullest, believing that is the key to changing the world. But sometimes this is easier said then done.

"South Africa is ranked 132 out of 144 countries by the World Economic Forum. A lack of quality teachers and severe home conditions in rural areas has resulted in some South African provinces having 80% of schools classified as failing" (Wise). 

Basic Education Minister Angie Motsheka revealed in a recent speech that 1,700 schools are still without a water supply and 15,000 schools are without libraries.

Education is the building blocks for individuals and communities alike. When an individual is educated, it not only benefits them, but also the community at large. Aristotle had the idea that moral education “focused on the collective, allowing children to be schooled … with a curriculum which reflected the values and norms of the community at large” (McMillan 535). This is an interesting claim because it is a common concept for us to want our children to learn acceptable means of communication and ways to be in society.

Education becomes prudent for society because it teaches social norms and values. Yet schools in South Africa still suffer from the legacy of apartheid that ended 17 years ago. Poor teacher training, lack of proper funding and corruption is what's creating this disaster for the youth of South Africa. 

Where do we start to help fix this? What steps can we take to change this? Plans to create reforms and budget adjustments are what some South African government officials are working on, but it basically comes down to having the courage to initiate the change.

McMillan, Leah. "What's In A Right? Two Variations For Interpreting The Right To Education." International Review Of Education (2010): 531-545. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 June 2013.

“South Africa education crisis fuels state school exodus.” BBC News: Africa (2012). Web. 17 June 2013.

Wise, Nicole. “Solving An Education Crisis In South Africa With Mediasite—RMIA Rapid Deployment Finalist University Of The Free State.” Mediasite (2013). Web. 17 June 2013.

Education is...

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”—Nelson Mandela.

Education is power. Education is change. Education is stability. Education is a lot of things. It is the building blocks to a more thriving society and population. It enables us to better ourselves as individuals and as a whole. So why is it that children all over the world are still receiving unequal quality of education.

Article 26 of the United Declaration of Human Rights states:

            (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory […]

            (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace […]” (United Declaration of Human Rights).

Yet, free, equal education is still unavailable to many children around the world. EqualEducation is a movement out of Cape Town, South Africa that strives to gain equality in South African education through analysis and activism. “Education was the foundation upon which inequality was fashioned during the years of apartheid, but unequal educational opportunities still remain amongst the greatest obstacles to equality, dignity and freedom in today's South Africa.”

Sarah Emily Duff writes in her blog Broken Toilets and Equal Education, about attending a public meeting on the state of government-funded schools in South Africa. She said the EE has been campaigning to publish a set of minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure. She quotes Pierre de Vos, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Cape Town who says, “[They] saw 132 grade 9 learners crammed into one classroom […] our little ones get taught in mud huts and do not have the ‘luxury’ of toilet facilities at all.”

It is an astounding thought that there are still children in the world who are subjected to such horrible learning conditions, especially when education is a fundamental right inherited by all human beings. Nelson Mandela was correct when he said that education is a weapon that we can use to change the world, now we just have to make sure every human being is armed with it.