Access to Education Initiative by Patricia De Lille
2004-01-19. The Independent Democrats are a new party determined to make a difference and to contribute to improving the lives of all South Africans. This is a party of doers, not a party of speeches and rhetoric.
Section 29 of The Constitution guarantees every South African the right
to a basic education. In todays world we believe that education to the
level of matric must be considered basic. However, there is currently a
contradiction between this right to education and the way education
policy is enacted.
The stated policy of the government is that "no learner can be denied admission, or otherwise discriminated against, on grounds of the parents inability or failure to pay fees." But, under the Schools Act No.84 of 1996, school governing bodies are constituted as section 21 entities with the authority to determine school fees and budgets and as such the school has the right to take legal action against parents for debt recovery.
Desperate parents and members of the public have approached our offices reporting incidents where school children have been turned away from attending school. Some have had their report cards held back because their parents did not pay their school fees.
We cannot tolerate a situation whereby a child's right to education is jeopardised by their parent's financial predicament. It is only with an education that these children will have a chance to break out of their poverty stricken circumstances. Only with education can this country and this continent prosper.
We are making ourselves available to parents and learners to report any incidents where children are prejudiced for not being able to pay school fees. Incidents can be reported by phoning us at the Independent Democrats call centre from 8am to 10pm seven days a week on 0861 121 344 or parents can SMS us on 33811.
We will investigate these incidents and help the Department of Education take action. As a political party our aim is to hold government accountable for delivery to all South Africans of their rights as promised by the Constitution. Government must review the contradictions between their stated objectives and the reality on the ground. It is not good enough to say there are procedures in the legislation, when children are turned away from school, and when parents are genuinely struggling to obtain exemption from the payment of school fees. In our experience parents are unaware of their rights in this regard. In some instances we will also help raise money from concerned individuals and businesses to cover the financial burden of a child's schooling. We appeal to everyone for support in this regard.
We appeal to government to intervene in these cases; to do much more to make themselves accessible and available to parents; to take action against school authorities that behave unlawfully and to inform parents of their rights. We believe the entire system of school fees needs urgent review. Government must provide sufficient funds to schools that they can provide the basic education as promised in our Constitution without having to rely on school fees. School fees should be there to raise money for the school for additional facilities and extra-curricula activities, not as the only way for a school to make ends meet. Anything short of this will lead to an uneducated nation. We are all responsible for the youth of our country, for the youth who are the future of our nation.
I believe that with this simple measure we are initiating today we will at the very least help some of our countrys children obtain the education that is their right.
The stated policy of the government is that "no learner can be denied admission, or otherwise discriminated against, on grounds of the parents inability or failure to pay fees." But, under the Schools Act No.84 of 1996, school governing bodies are constituted as section 21 entities with the authority to determine school fees and budgets and as such the school has the right to take legal action against parents for debt recovery.
Desperate parents and members of the public have approached our offices reporting incidents where school children have been turned away from attending school. Some have had their report cards held back because their parents did not pay their school fees.
We cannot tolerate a situation whereby a child's right to education is jeopardised by their parent's financial predicament. It is only with an education that these children will have a chance to break out of their poverty stricken circumstances. Only with education can this country and this continent prosper.
We are making ourselves available to parents and learners to report any incidents where children are prejudiced for not being able to pay school fees. Incidents can be reported by phoning us at the Independent Democrats call centre from 8am to 10pm seven days a week on 0861 121 344 or parents can SMS us on 33811.
We will investigate these incidents and help the Department of Education take action. As a political party our aim is to hold government accountable for delivery to all South Africans of their rights as promised by the Constitution. Government must review the contradictions between their stated objectives and the reality on the ground. It is not good enough to say there are procedures in the legislation, when children are turned away from school, and when parents are genuinely struggling to obtain exemption from the payment of school fees. In our experience parents are unaware of their rights in this regard. In some instances we will also help raise money from concerned individuals and businesses to cover the financial burden of a child's schooling. We appeal to everyone for support in this regard.
We appeal to government to intervene in these cases; to do much more to make themselves accessible and available to parents; to take action against school authorities that behave unlawfully and to inform parents of their rights. We believe the entire system of school fees needs urgent review. Government must provide sufficient funds to schools that they can provide the basic education as promised in our Constitution without having to rely on school fees. School fees should be there to raise money for the school for additional facilities and extra-curricula activities, not as the only way for a school to make ends meet. Anything short of this will lead to an uneducated nation. We are all responsible for the youth of our country, for the youth who are the future of our nation.
I believe that with this simple measure we are initiating today we will at the very least help some of our countrys children obtain the education that is their right.
