Prof Elda de Waal, acting research director of the Edu-HRight Research Unit on the campus in Potchefstroom, highlights a few challenges she foresees for education in South Africa this year.

 

She says the recent tragedy at Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark, where the collapse of a walkway killed four learners and left 20 others seriously injured, sends a clear warning to all South Africans that safety at our schools should not be taken for granted.

 

Elda argues that we should remain aware of safety aspects and says school governing bodies could play a bigger role by regularly having school buildings inspected. Making it clear she is not implying Hoërskool Driehoek was negligent, she says the suddenness of the incident just makes this issue more urgent.

 

A number of other education-related matters necessitate greater attention in 2019, Elda says.

 

Back to basics

 

“Hundreds of schools still do not have toilets and in many instances there is no running water for learners to wash their hands. These realities should surely take precedence over digital textbooks,” Elda says, referring to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s promise in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) that schools should have access to advanced digital workbooks, starting with the poorest schools.

 

Even though water and sanitation at schools are the responsibility of the Department of Basic Education, Elda says she would like to see communities supporting schools in their areas in solving these problems. Cooperation between communities and schools would also inspire learners and parents to help where they could.

 

She is concerned about the President’s announcement that grade RR and grade R will be made compulsory in future. She believes that learning at such a young age should take place by playing rather than compulsory school time.

 

Look in the mirror

 

She concludes by challenging people to consider their behaviour and the example they are setting.

 

“We are quick to express our concern over the levels of violence and bullying in schools, but are slow to look at our own actions.

 

“Our behaviour on the street, in a store, when driving a vehicle, while waiting in a queue, or when commenting on another’s comments on social media must be exemplary and worth emulating.”