I wonder what Youth Day (June 16) means to a lot of us. Is it a day to chill with friends and have a jolly good time or is it a painful reminder of the suffering that Soweto youths and thousands of other South Africans went through in search of freedom?
Sadly, for some people, the day is taken for granted. To me, Youth Day holds a dear place in my heart because I often reminisce about all the events culminating in the 1994 elections. A rite of passage from apartheid to freedom, bondage to liberation and oppression to political emancipation.
The June 16, 1976 uprising marked the climax of a series of student protests against the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. Protests were led by 20 000 African learners. They experienced police brutality, the same as experienced by the Marikana miners.
Hector Pieterson was among the thousands who lost their lives at the age of 12.This day commemorates the lives lost to the struggle, a day that changed the course of South Africa’s history.
After almost 48 years since the incident, I still don’t have a clear picture of the state of education. It may look good but there are concerns. Take for example the 30% pass mark. Yes, it’s an acceptable pass in high school but not a guaranteed enrolment entry to tertiary.
The education sector receives a large portion of the pie each year, however, some schools have nothing to show.
Parents have to dive deeper into their pockets to buy what schools cannot provide but demand. Then you ask yourself, what is the difference between public and private?
It pains to see visuals of teacher-learner fights. I believe both parties have a story to tell than immediately assuming that one is wrong. Safety at schools is a major concern. Are teachers and learners protected?
Teenage pregnancy is also rife in schools. Teachers are faced with the challenge of nursing or having other learners nurse pregnant learners, hence hindering a productive space.
When did we get here? Learners, I urge you to be the bigger persons, do not assault educators but conform to the school code of conduct.
Let us appreciate our education system and the right to study what we desire. We are the future of this country. Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.
Also Read:#16DaysofActivism: ‘I am an overcomer not a survivor’
