Our education system

 

No matter where you go, education is of high importance and great value. Even before freedom came along, schooling was taken seriously and valued by all. Some were lucky enough, or were given the opportunity were able to go study abroad. Bantu education was passed 1953 and though it was not easy for most to learn in the Afrikaans language, many did not give up.

18 years today into freedom and our education system is nowhere near reaching the top. iOL news reported in September that poor education lies at the root of South Africans problems. Sadly this can only result in the problems of society getting worse rather better, because education is like a universal language. It is the one thing that contributes greatly to economic and human growth, not forgetting that it is a human right.

 The Limpopo text book crisis that happened not so long ago was like a pat in the back, reminding us of the wider picture of the problem within our education system. iOL news reported that in the year 2011, the South African education system was ranked 33^rd of 142 in the world by the World Economic Forum. The Forum went on to say our system is failing to achieve even the basic standards of numeracy and literacy.

With that said, clearly something must be done. The more we empower this nation, the faster we fade the issues of poverty. Instead of spending 203 million into the Nkandla project, why can we not give the people of Nkandla and the rest of the nation a better quality education? The sad part is that the children of our politicians are born within families that can afford to give them education of overseas. While the average child has the right to education, but still is given one of the worst education in the world.

The nation of strikes

The great Einstein once said, you cannot try to solve a problem with the same mentality it was created… and neither can you perform the same actions and expect different results. True?

In the year 1956, the strong and brave women of this country went out to march.  According to the History of South Africa Online, about 20 000 women representing all racial back rounds came from all over South Africa. They came together to march towards the Union Buildings for this very freedom we have today. Sadly many did not return home that day, and families were broken. In 1976 history repeated itself in the Soweto Uprising.  And again many did not make it back home alive.

Through all that has been fought for and all we have achieved, by now this country must have realised that strikes seem to be doing more harm than good. Between the months of August and September a strike occurred from the miners in Marikana.  According to Mail & Guardian this strike claimed over 60 lives. Not long after this, truck drivers also entered into a strike, cars have been damaged and people have been injured. Clearly this channel of communication cannot go on forever.  One of two things can be the cause of all this. Its either the people of this country are failing to be patient towards the unions and government, so much that they cannot even communicate their needs to top. Or our unions and government are to slow to hear the people and communicate back to them. Now the sad reality is that generations to come are going to learn and are already learning that striking together with violence is the way to solve any given problem, and that is the future South Africa that is being built.

 New procedures must be put in place to help this nation deal with challenges, procedures that will do away with striking and violence. Procedures that will bring unity and confidence back into our country. It is enough!

Whats in the voice?

 

Most would look back at the past two years or so, and actually realise how much of a joke things have been from a political point of view.

Due to this, half the country has been anxiously waiting for this time. The time where we take a walk down the road to Mangaung.  So this is it! This is where a leap into the future is taken. And now we wait to see if our “honourable illiterate president”, as some may put it will be facing the end of the road or not. Looking around in every possible direction, not so many, if none at all changes have occurred since Zuma was voted president. All he has managed to do was walk yet again into another marriage, frequently shuffle the cabinet and show inconsistency when it comes to discipline.

Well who’s next? Times Live newspaper reported on the 3^rd of October that the ANCYL have nominated our current deputy president Mr Kgalema Motlanthe to take over, they stated that he is a leader with the ability to inspire the country and restore the confidence of the ANC. But even so some may not agree for they know not Motlanthe's voice.

Mr Kgalema Motlathe

- Were you not familiar with Zuma’s voice before he became president?

-Was he not the one always singing to the masses?

 -How exactly has the familiarity of his voice made a difference?

Looking on the bright side, we have witnessed Motlanthe serve the country as acting president between the months of September 2008 to May 2009. He also once served as a student activist of the Umkhonto we Sizwe. Maybe somebody as calm and humble is what this country needs. Yes he may not be singing to the masses, but can we really go another term with Zuma as our leader?

Whats in the voice?