Why are teachers being retrenched?

THE media reports that teachers are to be retrenched in KZN, due to budget constraints. This is an act of folly that will haunt this nation for years to come.

On September 10, 2014, then communications minister Faith Muthambi issued a statement saying “Denying a child an education is a crime”. If this is not a crime in our educational system, then we need to evaluate if it is in our interest to support the governing party at the polls on November 1. By retrenching teachers we are condemning a whole generation to illiteracy.

Educational is fundamental to development and growth. In today’s world, technologies, discourses, practices, basic and specialised knowledge are evolving and birthing so fast that if you do not have sound education you face the risk of being not just out-competed, but of being unable to tackle a hi-tech future for your own survival.

The quest for technological excellence must bind us to the importance of our learners receiving a grounding on the basics of a good education. By degrading the importance of our educational institutions, the greatest threat we will face as a nation is that we will not learn fast enough to think broadly, creatively and with insights garnered from around the world.

Children are the future of the world’s nations. If children are left uneducated, another generation will continue to struggle without life’s basics.

Behind this failure stands our government, which bears responsibility for ensuring that no child or young person is without education.

Failure to educate our youth will haunt us for decades to come.

FAROUK ARAIE |