POOR STUDENTS ARE WAKING UP AND TAKING CHARGE

STUDENTS in the struggle against apartheid in 1976, 1980, 1985 and the early 1990s were very involved in the fight to destroy apartheid. Especially in 1985, most students in high schools of the poor devoted almost an entire academic year to the struggle against apartheid.

Most of these students boycotted exams at the end of 1985. At the beginning of 1986, most students were promoted to the next grade. Only two schools – Harold Cressy High and Alexander Sinton High – had all their students repeat the academic year in 1986. Not much in my mind has been recorded on the 1985 school boycott and critically discussed.

South Peninsula High had its students write the final exams in 1985 because it believed that struggle involves protest but at the same time the academic interests of the students had to be considered.

As we look back at the years 1994 to the present, there seems to have been a lack of consistent interest on the part of students in political struggle (not only students but workers, parents and school staff).

In 1996, parents, school staff and students fought against the rationalisation of teachers, closing 50 teacher training colleges in South Africa in 1998 and 21 schools in the Western Cape in 2012. Since 1994, people felt we had won democracy and government would look after the interests of the citizens. I think we have all learnt that governments around the world must be watched closely and brought to book.

In 2022, I get a very strong feeling that the students at the schools of the poor are waking up and are questioning what the government is doing in education.

I have formally been out of education since December 9, 2016, having been dismissed by education MEC Debbie Schäfer for challenging her authority, a badge I wear with honour.

I keep in touch with education through various bodies and especially with students. I was recently invited to a Representative Council of Learners workshop on leadership at Steenberg High. High schools which attended were Steenberg, Heathfield, Sibelius and Lavender Hill. The students discussed the importance of leadership.

They focused on the terms leadership and leader. They discussed the different types of leadership.

Autocratic and authoritarian leadership were out for them. A leader who just delegates did not get much support from them. The students felt participative and democratic leadership was the way forward. They felt most teachers were not happy with a participative leadership style because this meant teachers and parents would have to sit and discuss matters with students.

My input into the discussion was that at any school, leaders must speak about excellence in all aspects of education. Student leadership must believe that no matter the problems a school faces, it must strive for excellence.

I said it was easy for students to use the excuse that because the school lacks financial and material resources, they cannot give their best, and at the same time demand these financial and physical resources from the education department. I walked away from this group of energetic, intelligent and thoughtful students with joy in my heart at the resoluteness and forward-thinking of these young students. The struggle for excellent education is in good hands.