Make history compulsory – Angie
SOUTH Africa’s recent xenophobic attacks and the defacing of statues could push the Department of Basic Education towards making history a compulsory subject.
The issue has been on the cards since a ministerial task team, set up to review the National Senior Certificate, recommended that more research be done in making history compulsory in grades 10 to 12.
Addressing parliament during her budget vote yesterday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said: “We have to learn from the shameful experiences and behaviour of the last few weeks of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals and the defacing of historical statues and set an example for our young people to live in a world that is diverse, different and forward-looking.”
Earlier, she said: “Media reports indicated that many of those who took part in the looting, violence and vandalism were youths. “We need to equip our youth with an accurate account of our history for them to make educated decisions regarding their own future.”
Motshekga said another ministerial task team would be established to look at making the subject compulsory and how best to implement it.