Date: 19/10/2003
Source: Department of Education
Title: Asmal: Imbizo Focus Week: St Cyprian Anglican Church, Sharpeville
SPEAKING NOTES FOR THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, MP, AT AN IMBIZO IN SHARPEVILLE: St Cyprian Anglican Church, Sharpeville, 19 October 2003
1. Sharpeville - an important site of struggle, that has an indelible place in the annals of our history:
* The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, where 69 of our people were shot dead by the Apartheid police for raising their voices against the pass laws which were a major affront to the dignity of Black people
* In the mid-1980s, as part of the Vaal community, Sharpeville residents played a major role in the resistance against the undemocratic system of Apartheid local government and Apartheid Education. The main weapons used during this resistance were mass protests, consumer boycotts, and a rent boycott
* From the 1980s struggles, the Apartheid government charged six members of the community with murder and subversion, following the death of a deputy mayor. These members became known as the Sharpeville Six. They were sentenced to death for a murder they did not commit (even the judge could not find that the accused had a direct hand in the death of the deputy mayor). The Sharpeville Six were convicted on the dubious principle of "common purpose". The death penalty was later commuted, and when negotiations gained momentum in 1991, the Six were released.
One of the Sharpeville Six, Duma Khumalo, had this to say in 1998:
"I was to be hanged on 18 March 1988, after I had been sentenced to death for a crime I had not committed. The day before my execution, after I had bid my parents farewell, my death sentence was commuted. ...This is a painful subject to talk about because it brings me back to prison, just like my dreams do at night. Every minute I spent on death row was focused on death. In hindsight, I see that this wasn't life. I wasn't alive. I wasn't a person. ... Those of us who experienced the violation of human rights during apartheid in South Africa are not victims. We are survivors. I have attempted to complete my teacher training, studies I had begun at the time of my arrest, but my psychological problems have been an obstacle. It is difficult for me to find joy. My family has been ruined because of my time in prison."
* The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa was signed by President Mandela in Sharpeville on 10 December 1996. This Constitution contains a Bill of Rights that protects ordinary people against the kinds of violations of human rights experienced by the Sharpeville Six.
2. Building a people's contract for growth and development
* Freedom has brought dignity and human rights to all South Africans
* Strong economic performance and the Government's policies are now allowing resources to be directed to the poor
* Economic progress is a foundation for expanded interventions against poverty
* The Growth and Development Summit (GDS) cemented partnerships between Government and other role players. It strengthened the conditions for the successful and speedy implementation of pro-poor programmes
* Programmes already available include learnerships, Umsobomvu Youth Fund, SMME support, ABET centres and after-care support at existing Multi-Purpose Community Centres
* Government is also expanding access to services, including social grants
* To access economic opportunities and social services, our people should have Identity Documents (IDs)
* You also need an ID to vote!
* You must also register to vote in next year's election!
3. Plan of Action: Improving access to free and quality basic education for all
* The Department of Education investigated the costs of education early this year, and on the basis of the findings of this investigation adopted a Plan of Action to improve access to free and quality basic education for all
* Pro-poor school funding: National norms for funding schools will be used instead of provincial norms. This ensures equal funding for poor learners across all provinces, instead of poor students in some provinces being funded better than poor students in other provinces
* School nutrition programme: This will be transferred to the Department of Education in 2004. Our target is to provide a nutritious meal to 20% of learners on a pro-poor basis on every school day
* Transport: Our target is to ensure that no student has to travel for more than one hour to the nearest school. The Ministry will investigate various affordable transport options for students during 2004
* School fees: Our target is that no poor school should need to charge school fees. Our fee exemption policy, stated in the Norms and Standards for School Funding, will be strengthened
* School uniforms: Our aim is NOT to abolish uniforms, but to make uniforms affordable for all students. The Ministry, in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry, is looking at ways of reducing the cost of school uniforms, including ending the local monopolies of single suppliers of uniforms and the requirements of expensive and over-specific uniforms like specially-designed blazers.
4. National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
* In keeping with the Government's goal of providing access to education and training for all, we set up a National Student Financial Aid Scheme for students who wish to go to universities and technikons
* Grade 11 students, do not delay! Start making applications to the NSFAS as early as possible
* Although the NSFAS cannot offer every applicant the total amount required for studies, it is important that students, especially from poor families, should apply
* We have increased the money we put into NSFAS to R850 million, which is offered to students in the form of bursaries and loans. When we started it was only R300 million.
5. Religion and Education
* Seeing that we are meeting in a church, I should finally talk about our policy on Religion and Education, which has been widely accepted by all religious leaders
* The policy ensures that no child is discriminated against on the basis of religion and to give guidance on religious practices in our schools
* The policy addresses three key issues:
-- Religion education - belongs to the school. It is done through Life Orientation in grades R to 9, and through an elective, Religion Studies in grades 10 to 12
-- Religious instruction - belongs to the home and religious communities
-- Religious observances - are allowed in schools, provided they are done on an equitable basis.
6. Let us talk, exchange views and inform one another
* Government started Imbizo programme more than two years ago as a way of bringing government closer to the people, and people closer together to build a partnership for reconstruction and development
* I have reported to you on a few of the things that Government has been doing
* It is time for me to listen to what your needs, aspirations and suggestions are.
Source: Department of Education (http://education.pwv.gov.za)
Source: Department of Education
Title: Asmal: Imbizo Focus Week: St Cyprian Anglican Church, Sharpeville
SPEAKING NOTES FOR THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, MP, AT AN IMBIZO IN SHARPEVILLE: St Cyprian Anglican Church, Sharpeville, 19 October 2003
1. Sharpeville - an important site of struggle, that has an indelible place in the annals of our history:
* The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, where 69 of our people were shot dead by the Apartheid police for raising their voices against the pass laws which were a major affront to the dignity of Black people
* In the mid-1980s, as part of the Vaal community, Sharpeville residents played a major role in the resistance against the undemocratic system of Apartheid local government and Apartheid Education. The main weapons used during this resistance were mass protests, consumer boycotts, and a rent boycott
* From the 1980s struggles, the Apartheid government charged six members of the community with murder and subversion, following the death of a deputy mayor. These members became known as the Sharpeville Six. They were sentenced to death for a murder they did not commit (even the judge could not find that the accused had a direct hand in the death of the deputy mayor). The Sharpeville Six were convicted on the dubious principle of "common purpose". The death penalty was later commuted, and when negotiations gained momentum in 1991, the Six were released.
One of the Sharpeville Six, Duma Khumalo, had this to say in 1998:
"I was to be hanged on 18 March 1988, after I had been sentenced to death for a crime I had not committed. The day before my execution, after I had bid my parents farewell, my death sentence was commuted. ...This is a painful subject to talk about because it brings me back to prison, just like my dreams do at night. Every minute I spent on death row was focused on death. In hindsight, I see that this wasn't life. I wasn't alive. I wasn't a person. ... Those of us who experienced the violation of human rights during apartheid in South Africa are not victims. We are survivors. I have attempted to complete my teacher training, studies I had begun at the time of my arrest, but my psychological problems have been an obstacle. It is difficult for me to find joy. My family has been ruined because of my time in prison."
* The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa was signed by President Mandela in Sharpeville on 10 December 1996. This Constitution contains a Bill of Rights that protects ordinary people against the kinds of violations of human rights experienced by the Sharpeville Six.
2. Building a people's contract for growth and development
* Freedom has brought dignity and human rights to all South Africans
* Strong economic performance and the Government's policies are now allowing resources to be directed to the poor
* Economic progress is a foundation for expanded interventions against poverty
* The Growth and Development Summit (GDS) cemented partnerships between Government and other role players. It strengthened the conditions for the successful and speedy implementation of pro-poor programmes
* Programmes already available include learnerships, Umsobomvu Youth Fund, SMME support, ABET centres and after-care support at existing Multi-Purpose Community Centres
* Government is also expanding access to services, including social grants
* To access economic opportunities and social services, our people should have Identity Documents (IDs)
* You also need an ID to vote!
* You must also register to vote in next year's election!
3. Plan of Action: Improving access to free and quality basic education for all
* The Department of Education investigated the costs of education early this year, and on the basis of the findings of this investigation adopted a Plan of Action to improve access to free and quality basic education for all
* Pro-poor school funding: National norms for funding schools will be used instead of provincial norms. This ensures equal funding for poor learners across all provinces, instead of poor students in some provinces being funded better than poor students in other provinces
* School nutrition programme: This will be transferred to the Department of Education in 2004. Our target is to provide a nutritious meal to 20% of learners on a pro-poor basis on every school day
* Transport: Our target is to ensure that no student has to travel for more than one hour to the nearest school. The Ministry will investigate various affordable transport options for students during 2004
* School fees: Our target is that no poor school should need to charge school fees. Our fee exemption policy, stated in the Norms and Standards for School Funding, will be strengthened
* School uniforms: Our aim is NOT to abolish uniforms, but to make uniforms affordable for all students. The Ministry, in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry, is looking at ways of reducing the cost of school uniforms, including ending the local monopolies of single suppliers of uniforms and the requirements of expensive and over-specific uniforms like specially-designed blazers.
4. National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)
* In keeping with the Government's goal of providing access to education and training for all, we set up a National Student Financial Aid Scheme for students who wish to go to universities and technikons
* Grade 11 students, do not delay! Start making applications to the NSFAS as early as possible
* Although the NSFAS cannot offer every applicant the total amount required for studies, it is important that students, especially from poor families, should apply
* We have increased the money we put into NSFAS to R850 million, which is offered to students in the form of bursaries and loans. When we started it was only R300 million.
5. Religion and Education
* Seeing that we are meeting in a church, I should finally talk about our policy on Religion and Education, which has been widely accepted by all religious leaders
* The policy ensures that no child is discriminated against on the basis of religion and to give guidance on religious practices in our schools
* The policy addresses three key issues:
-- Religion education - belongs to the school. It is done through Life Orientation in grades R to 9, and through an elective, Religion Studies in grades 10 to 12
-- Religious instruction - belongs to the home and religious communities
-- Religious observances - are allowed in schools, provided they are done on an equitable basis.
6. Let us talk, exchange views and inform one another
* Government started Imbizo programme more than two years ago as a way of bringing government closer to the people, and people closer together to build a partnership for reconstruction and development
* I have reported to you on a few of the things that Government has been doing
* It is time for me to listen to what your needs, aspirations and suggestions are.
Source: Department of Education (http://education.pwv.gov.za)
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