NOW UCT WANTS AN ONLINE PRIVATE SCHOOL

ARE we really serious about creating an education system in South Africa where we have a society where all children have an equal access to excellent education.

Before democracy the oppressed were united in opposing private schools and fighting for one educational system.

Promises, promises.

Now a so called liberated UCT (which the late Dr Richard Dudley of Livingstone High School accused of racism during the apartheid era) is instituting an online private high school.

An ex-student of Livingstone High School during apartheid recalls a story of Dr Dudley. In a matric physics class where Dudley was dealing with gasses – he told students to look towards Table Mountain.

This brilliant teacher said: “Not even the mist covering Table Mountain can hide the racism at UCT.”

I know many universities around the world and rightly so, assist schools with extra lessons to help the students.

From what I have read UCT has collaborated with a private company called Valentine, which they say is well-known in education in South Africa (I must say it is a name I have not heard). I have been involved in education for 40 years and try to keep abreast of major changes and different views on education in South Africa and in the world.

It was, therefore, surprising to read in the Weekend Cape Argus that the UCT rector announced the opening of a virtual high school to begin next year. My field is high school education and teachers I approached were unaware of the UCT online high school.

The rector stated in the article that they had consulted government and other stakeholders.

Like many other universities I know UCT assisted in helping high school students in subjects like maths and physics like other universities in the Western Cape.

In most cases these classes were offered at no cost to the students. They must be commended for this. South Africa is known as the most unequal society in the world and this is reflected in all aspects of South African life namely ownership of businesses, health sector, agricultural sector, housing and education. The involvement of UCT in full-time online learning high school for students is a course for grave concern. We all know that universities are competing for students.

Yes there is a drop-out rate due to failing but most students drop out of high school because the high schools cannot accommodate all the students coming from the primary schools.

In South Africa, for every two primary schools with the same number of students, there is only one high school.

What will be the UCT criteria for selection of students for their online high school programme? Already UCT said it will charge the parents R2 090 per month for the online school.

Will these middle-class parents be willing to send their children to the online high school? Or does UCT have an ace up its sleeve in that they have ensured bursaries for these students.

Are they aiming to attract the best academic students from schools of the poor? This is what model C schools also do.

I do not agree with this concept of fusing a university with a school. It raises many questions. Parents whose children are being enrolled at UCT’s University/Virtual High School – do they expect their children once completed with matric to be automatically accepted by UCT. It raises an ethical question. Would this not be seen as favouring the UCT high school students.

It seems to me UCT is now going to run a private high school.

UCT should seriously reconsider its decision. It should consult the wider South African community!