Rotten education system department’s responsibility

ANOTHER World Economic Forum ranking and South Africa has again been ranked last in maths and science education.

A spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education reacted by claiming that the index was an attack on South Africa.

The absurdity of claim boggles the mind.

The spokesperson also proffered that the rankings failed to include enough countries. The forum’s Global Competitiveness Index listed 140 countries.

There are about 196 countries in the world. Would South Africa’s ranking be

the demonstrably improved if the remaining 56 countries had been included in the index? Wishful thinking.

The department continues to engage in chronic denial to avoid dealing with the most uncomfortable truth – South Africa’s shameful and rotten education system and its role in perpetuating it.

Those in the Department of Basic Education must accept responsibility for the appalling quality of the country’s education system, rather than assigning blame or making puerile excuses.

Fresnaye, Western Cape