Section 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states:
Everyone has the right to a basic education...
Two weeks ago (sorry that I was slow on this), I ventured out into some of the very rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal to visit some schools. These are schools that the LRC has previously had a relationship with or is in the midst of developing a relationship. Throughout my time at the LRC, the right to education has crept up on numerous occasions. Although I have not worked on any specific education cases, there are numerous issues that others in our office have been working on. In addition to discussions concerning these matters, I have also learned a lot about education in South Africa from my colleagues and their educational experiences. I think what continues to amaze me is the disparity between the standard of education received by children in South Africa - from the posh private schools that I have trouble even imagining to exist in a place like Canada, to little mud huts without proper roofs, lighting or supplies. I still question how you can possibly come from one of these little rural schools and have any chance at success when the cards are so stacked against you right from the beginning.
I know that we have disparity in Canada, but I have to say, as a public school product, I am so thankful to be from where I am from. I received a wonderful education at Mike Mountain Horse Elementary School and Winston Churchill High School. And in the grand scheme of things, my time at Hamilton Junior High wasn't all that bad either. I was given opportunities that allowed me to continue on and have a chance at success.
This is not the case for everyone, and even in Canada kids are sometimes failed by the system, but it's different here. As I write this, teachers in the Eastern Cape (another province) are taking action in the form of a 'go-slow' that has been going on for a month, and yet the government is not acting. Kids are being left behind; they are being failed by a system. But, unlike in Canada, this is not a single kid here or there, but a whole generation of rural kids. How are these kids ever going to change their world?
So, like I said, two or so weeks ago, a group of us from the office ventured out to one of the rural areas to do some site visits.
Thandeka was excited about going...
MK appeared to be angry and about to hit me, but in fact, was not angry and just wanted the snacks back.
He may have been a little angry that we kept sending him off to ask for directions (a hazard when you are on a trip in rural KZN with three white girls who don't speak very much Zulu).
This is Inkolovuzane Primary School. Looks pretty decent eh? Well, first you should know that it was paid for by a local business man who was tired of waiting for the school that had been promised by the government. The government clearly did not argue with this gentleman when he offered to pay for the school.
The reality though, this school has two major problems - one you can see on the top of those kids' heads.
The school lacks access to clean drinking water. The day we were there the temperature gauge in the car read 36 degrees. So the kids bring the water up to the school from the near by river. When we saw the river, there were people bathing in it, others washing their clothes, one washing his truck and another just driving his truck through the water. Seems like great drinking water.
Unfortunately, we haven't been able to help with that problem as of yet. The other problem is one that the LRC was successful in helping with. Like I said, the school is located up the hill from a river. The majority of the students are from the other side of the river. In order to attend school, these kids would have to cross the river - without a bridge of any type. For part of this year, the worst result of this was wet feet, but during rainy season, the crossing became much more dangerous, with more than one pupil being caught up in the current and drowning. Remember - this is a primary school, little kindergarten aged children trying to cross a river.
This is where the LRC got involved and successfully argued to have the Minister of Transport build a bridge in order for the children to get to school safely. I have to say, the Minister clearly decided to do a little more than build a foot bridge for the children, and soon vehicles will be able to cross the bridge as well. But the really important part, these kids will now be able to get to school safely, the first step in obtaining an education.
This is the bridge...
Still being worked on, but well on the way to being completed.
And for good measure - here are the kindergarten kids who will benefit.
We'll have to tackle the issue of kids walking along the highway another day...
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