Liberation through education  

Note to Editors: This extract is based on a speech delivered by the DA Youth Leader Mbali Ntuli at the Kgabo High School during the DA's youth day celebrations. 

We came here today to celebrate Youth Day by repairing Kgabo High School. Unfortunately the Limpopo Education MEC barred us from entering the school today. It is a pity that, even on youth day, the MEC is putting politics above delivery. 

Today we celebrate the bravery of the youth of '76. They paid the ultimate price for our freedom. They stood up against oppression to forge a better future for themselves and for us.

Back then, black youths faced almost impossible odds. They faced overcrowded classes. They faced a government that undermined their education through the Bantu education system. Facilities were poor or non-existent. 

On top of that, the apartheid government forced them to use a language that was not their own.

We have come a long way since then. Since 1994, things have gotten a bit better. There are more schools, everyone writes the same matric exam, and there are opportunities for black youths to become educated, to go to university and to participate in the economy.

But I wish I could say to you today that all the hopes and dreams of the youths of 76 have been realised. They marched and died for decent education. Unfortunately, we do not yet have decent education for all young South Africans.

Our progress since 1994 has been too slow, and millions of people are being left behind. 

You see, while some pupils have world class education in South Africa; others, like the pupils of Kgabo High School, have to go to school in a dilapidated school building - without proper textbooks. 

There are classrooms with leaky roofs. The school has no chairs. The toilets are no longer usable. We cannot expect our children to receive proper education in these circumstances. 

There are too many schools like Kgabo High School. 

We must fix Kgabo High School, and every other school like it. We must make sure Kgabo High School has all the textbooks it needs. We must make sure all the teachers at every school are on time and in class, teaching. We must make sure every classroom is in good shape. 

Because ultimately we can only help our youth to find jobs, if we prepare them with proper education. It is no good to go through the school system, only to remain unemployed with your matric!

True liberation, like what the youth of '76 fought for, can only be achieved through proper education and job opportunities. We need the right education for our young people, so that they can find jobs to make life better. 

Too many people are still being left behind by a failing education system.

Yesterday, Thendo Mogwena sent me a message over twitter. She has two university degrees - a BSC from Wits and an honours degree from Stellenbosch. Yet she can't find a job. We are failing our youth if people like Thendo cannot even find a job. 

My message to you and to Thendo is that the DA wants to fix the education system so that it empowers you with skills that can help to find you a job. We also want to change the way our economy works so that it creates job opportunities for young people. That way, Thendo will be able to find a job, and work for a better life.

That is why we came here today. The DA Youth today wanted to help the young people in this area by repairing sections of Kgabo High School. We wanted to make a difference here. 

The school principle, teachers, parents and school governing body were all happy to welcome us here, because they wanted better facilities for their children. 

But unfortunately, the MEC for Education in Limpopo, Dickson Masemola, has told the school superintendent in this area that we are not allowed to come and help Kgabo High School today. 

You know, this is such a good example of what is wrong with our school system. Instead of welcoming our assistance to make life better for the pupils of Kgamo High School, the MEC decided to enforce his own political agenda. 

There is too much politics and wheeling and dealing in our education system, and too little delivery! MECs don't want to look bad, so they refuse help from the outside. The department here can't deliver textbooks on time, because the tender to deliver textbooks was given to company with links to the right people. Teachers who don't do their jobs, don't get fired, because the teacher's union is affiliated to COSATU. 

Too much buti-buti politics and too little delivery!

The end result is that young people don't get the education they deserve, and they become unemployed. 

That is why 49% of our youth is unemployed! 

So instead of fixing Kgabo High School this morning, we will go door-to-door in Gamokgokong village to spread the DA's message and plan to deliver on the hopes and dreams of the youth of 1976.

Those dreams have never been fully realised. The time has come for us to elect a new government that is able to deliver those dreams: decent education, job opportunities and a better life.

Issued by the DA Youth, June 16 2013

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