Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Pupils end Parliament sleep-in
Equal Education wants basic services
THE Plein Street entrance to Parliament was turned into a camp site this week as high school pupils associated with Equal Education (EE) had a two-day sit-in to boost their demands for basic services at schools across the country.
Equal Education is a movement of pupils, parents, teachers and community members working for quality and equality in South African education, through analysis and activism.
Yesterday about 100 pupils were packing up their mattresses, blankets and sleeping bags, saying they were finally headed home after two windy nights outside as they showed solidarity with fellow pupils from rural schools.
Buhle Booi, a matric pupil at Sizimisele High School in Khayelitsha, said they wanted all pupils to learn under suitable conditions. “How can you learn anything under a tree, or in a mud school or a school that doesn’t have sanitation and electricity? We slept here so that all rural schools can be brought up to standard for pupils.”
As for sleeping outside, he said it was okay because it was for a good cause, and he’d do it again.
Last year in Limpopo 6-yearold Grade R pupil Michael Komape died when he fell into a pit toilet.
Booi’s fellow matric pupil Kedibone Legoale said they were also there to remember Michael. “What happened to Michael is good example of how many schools in rural areas are a danger to pupils. As a mother one would think the minister of basic education Angie Motshekga would do all she could to make schools safe for pupils, but we still have mud school and schools with no sanitation.”
The protest took place even though Parliament is in recess, but EE chairwoman Yoliswa Dwane said they hadn’t let that halt their protest.
“We see Parliament as a symbol of democracy. Whether or not it’s in recess, we are here to voice our concerns.”
Dwane said they had held a simultaneous protest at the Education Department offices in Zwelitsha in King William’s Town. One planned for Pretoria had not taken place.
“We are demanding the public release of the provincial plans to implement the norms and standards which the minister has had since last year. We’ve written to the minister on several occasions, but nothing has happened.”
Public plans were necessary so that communities could check on the accuracy of backlog lists, mobilise to assist the government in ensuring delivery by contractors, and check that budgeting was adequate, Dwane said.
Nomalungelo Gina, chairwoman of the portfolio committee on basic education, said in a statement on Thursday that she had received EE’s memorandum outlining their concerns electronically. She assured the organisation that the committee would follow up the issue highlighted as part of its oversight function in respect of the national and provincial basic education departments.