Dlamini Zuma in ‘cheap politicking’

STATEMENTS by Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma that former Model C schools are feeding learners anti-ANC information, including the assertion that the party is corrupt, have stirred up a hornet’s nest.

The veracity of these utterances by the presidential hopeful needs authentication. Shooting from the hip or hearsay cannot be justification to enunciate such views. If there is credible evidence to prove this is really the case, then the proper channels need to be followed to discipline schools involved.

If these statements’ sole intention was based on cheap politicking or attacking a specific race group, then it is most definitely misdirected.

Schools are meant to be repositories of expansive knowledge and critical thinking. Learners must be able to freely express their feelings on any topic, without the fear of reprisals.

Picture a scenario in the classroom in the social sciences lesson where politics is discussed and learners negatively criticise political parties, including the ANC.

As an educator, do you now censor what the learners are saying for fear that you may be singled out as advocating, for example, anti-ANC sentiments?

Learners must be allowed to have a variety of views, therefore the government cannot be seen as pushing party views.

The festering debate about teaching European and US history at the expense of African heroes and heroines needs to be intellectually investigated.

Most school textbooks, as per interventions from the respective role-players, contain scant information about European history and its impact in Africa and SA.

What needs to be reflected on is whether curtailing or omitting European history from the syllabuses will be beneficial to learners, or is it forgetting the European impact on our continent? VIJAY SURUJPAL

Phoenix