Opening of schools in Western Cape

COSATU is disappointed that the opening of the school year revealed the same old situation in the Western Cape. The schools for the mainly White rich schools far exceed the poorer mainly Black schools, in respect of facilities and resources. This unequal situation of educational resources, gives the Black working class learners a huge disadvantage in relation to their White counterparts. This disadvantages the Black child who must compete for a job or access to tertiary education, with White learners.

COSATU is also disappointed with the many subjects that are not offered by the poorer schools and by the fact that the class sizes are much bigger in the poorer mainly Black schools. The Western Cape Education Department continues to treat Black learners as second hand and we are not sure if this is because the Premier sees anyone non-Whites as refugees in the Western Cape. Let us remind Zille that the San and the Khoi were here before the White Settlers and it was them who built the Western Cape, whilst the madams and the masters were drinking wit blits.

COSATU demands that real efforts are made to equalise educational facilities and opportunities for Black and White learners in the Western Cape, failing which COSATU will bring the whole of the Province to a standstill by way of a strike, to ensure a proper future for the children of workers.

Too many schools still do not have adequate facilities and support at the opening of the school year. The safety of learners are still badly neglected in the Province that has the worst levels of violent crimes. COSATU calls on the Provincial Government to show empathy and real measures to the needs of the children of the workers of the economy.

Statement issued by ANC Western Cape Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, January 21 2015 

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter