Equal Education to hold public meeting on minimum norms and standards for schools

The organisation says Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, pledged to implement this policy by 1 April, 2011, but it has yet to be adopted. Equal Education is concerned that the absence of this document means that the country’s education departments cannot easily be held accountable for the quality of school infrastructure, such as whether or not they have libraries. T

On 9 January Minster Motshekga published a draft Minimum Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure. But Equal Education and other education rights organisations have been disappointed by its lack of commitment and content. In response Equal Education has been organising public hearings on the draft across the country. It is holding a public hearing tonight at the Good Hope centre in Cape Town. Here citizens will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the draft policy for the Minimum Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure.

Sibusiso Foshara is a grade 11 learner at Bulumko High School in Khayelitsha. Foshara’s wish is that the Minister adopts a minimum norms and standards policy soon. “This policy will bring a lot of change in our schools. We have no computers at the school, No library or science lab.” Foshara also highlighted the use of corporal punishment as a concern, but said that the Department of Education is slowly dealing with the issue.

Andiswa Kolanisi is a parent who works for Equal Education and organises other parents. She is passionate about children’s education. Koanisi said the upcoming public hearing gives hope to a lot of community members. She believes it will be a day for the voices of the community to be heard about the education system and how to reform it.