Pandor+has+wrong+people+pledging,+Rehana+Rossouw,+Weekender



=**Pandor has the wrong people pledging**=


 * Rehana Rossouw, Business Day Weekender, 16 February 2008**

I was active in the struggle against apartheid and I certainly don’t want millions of school children chanting a rote sentence every weekday, pretending to honour me.

The “pledge” unveiled by Education Minister Naledi Pandor this week is one of the most ridiculous documents I’ve seen emerge from a ministry that’s drafted many bizarre policies since 1994.

“We the youth of SA, recognising the injustices of our past, honour those who suffered and sacrificed for justice and freedom.” What exactly will this opening line’s contorted language mean to a seven-year-old?

Wouldn’t it have been great if Pandor, when she unveiled her crappy pledge, had pledged to improve the pass rate at our further education and training colleges — a dismal 11% last year, with every student failing some courses.

Why doesn’t she get teachers to pledge to come to school every day unless they’re really sick; to pledge to come to school sober or sans hangover; to pledge to upgrade their skills if they had pathetic apartheid education; to pledge not to rush out of the gates before the learners when the last bell rings; to pledge not to impregnate or rape their female learners?

Why doesn’t she get principals to pledge to improve their management skills; to pledge to ensure teachers meet all the requirements of their work; to make schools a proper learning environment for communities?

Why can’t she ask principals and teachers to pledge to “respect and protect the dignity of each person (learner)”? Why should children be held accountable when the adults aren’t?

Why doesn’t she ask principals and teachers to “stand up for justice” when children are raped, stabbed and shot in our school grounds?

Why don’t Pandor and her officials “sincerely declare that we shall uphold the rights and values of our constitution and promise to act in accordance with the duties and responsibilities that flow from these rights"? Doesn’t the constitution promise a basic education (whatever that is) and further education to all South Africans?

I prefer to hear pledges from adults who are accountable to the taxpayers, voters and parents than from children who hardly understand the meaning of the words they’re uttering every day.

Most importantly, why did Pandor consult “religious leaders” on a pledge for schoolchildren? Is SA not a secular state? What have religious leaders got to do with our education? Now children will be expected to ask God to bless Africa every morning. Is that better than asking for a quality education?


 * From: http://www.businessday.co.za/weekender/article.aspx?ID=BD4A707528**

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