Move to make history compulsory

HE only time a person can become a complete citizen of a country, or of the world, is when that person has a sense of where he or she comes from.

That’s the view of the deputy general secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers Union, Nkosana Dolopi, who recently made a proposal to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to make history a compulsory subject at school, and to include more South African content in the syllabus.

“If one looks at the history books, there have been two devastating world wars. By knowing and understanding what led to this, you will avoid wars by all means,” Dolopi told POST.

He said people who did not understand the history of South Africa were vulnerable.

“There are misconceptions that life started after the arrival of whites in Africa. But if one looks at history, maths started in Egypt; we had life, we had medicine, we had midwifery. And the only way one can respond to these distortions is if one understands their history and can become confident.”

Dolopi said it was important to emphasise “our own South African” history. “Of course we have to understand the world. But we want to know more about the Khoi and the San and how blacks cultivated the land.

“We want to know about our heroes. Our children don’t know much about local heroes – those that come from our own townships.” Dolopi said there were many unsung heroes in townships.

He asked that the process of including South African history should be “broad”, including not only academics, but society.

“We need to reach out and get these unknown stories.”

He said another important aspect was learning the value systems of the past and respect for the elderly.

Harmony

“We need to know how our people lived in harmony and cared for each other.”

Dolopi said he was hoping to make history a compulsory subject a reality by 2018. “We are hoping to start in the lower grades first.”

Motshekga raised the topic in Parliament in July 2014.

“A country that chooses to hide its heritage and historical footprints from its children takes the risk of having them repeat the mistakes of their predecessors,” she had said. “We are currently conducting comparative studies and research on countries offering history as a compulsory subject. Research has shown that as a subject, history has a number of positive effects such as contributing to nation-building, national pride, patriotism, social cohesion and cultural heritage.”

Department spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said a panel set up at the beginning of the year was currently taking input from members of the public.

Anthony Pierce, spokesman for the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa), said this was not the first time the proposal had been made.

“Kader Asmal himself made a call… for history to be made compulsory.”

Pierce said the then education minister proceeded to consult with various parties, including Naptosa.

“At the time we were very supportive, and we will continue to be supportive to ensure that history is taught at school, more especially secondary schools.”

Pierce was of the view that one could not proceed with the notion of democracy, if one could not provide pupils with information that related to it: “In other words, you can’t teach in a vacuum. History closes that particular vacuum.”

Pierce said citizens of a country should understand the history of their country.

“You can’t claim to be a citizen of a country and not know the history of that country. One needs a good understanding of the past to be able to move forward.” SEE PAGE 21