The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

It is depressing to be at the bottom of the pile. Newsweek's (16 August 2010) list of the world's best countries put South Africa at 82nd overall, and ranks our education system 97th out of 100. That's fourth from the bottom. We put more money and effort into our schools than many of the countries ahead of us, and Minister Angie Motshekga has begun to reverse some poor earlier decisions, but coming in at 97th shows just how far we still have to go.

Newsweek ranked our education performance below countries like Mozambique, Bangladesh and Iran, states less wealthy or less free than our own.

Newsweek explained that the best performing school systems do a few things very well. We should take note. Firstly, high-quality pre-school provision does more for a child's chances in school than any other intervention. Secondly, the best schools have students who arrive early at school, leave later, attend more regularly and come on Saturdays when they need to. Thirdly, superior schools have teachers who thrive on the effort, investment and care put into their training, and who respond well to ongoing evaluation and performance bonuses. Fourthly, great schools help struggling students through individual attention and mentorship.

The watchwords therefore are quality, excellence and care, the credo of the Democratic Alliance. But our schooling system is nowhere close in exemplifying this credo. Right now, schools across the country are closed due to striking teachers who are holding their pupils' educations hostage for personal gain. No doubt many of our teachers deserve better salaries, but our students have a Constitutional right to a quality education. As my colleague, Dr. Junita Kloppers-Lourens has pointed out repeatedly, the South African Democratic Teacher's Union (Sadtu) seems to have forgotten this. Through undisciplined and, at times, violent actions, many Sadtu members have abandoned their primary responsibility of securing our nation's future through an outstanding education for our children.

In the Western Cape, the Democratic Alliance is working hard to improve performance. We are trying to enhance our education system by fixing broken schools, enhancing teachers' conditions, and promoting an ethic of excellence amongst students.

Let's be honest: our dysfunctional education system cannot continue as is. We've known this for a long time, and now the international community knows it. We've won a pitiful "race to the bottom", something for which we should feel ashamed. Now it's time to make the hard decisions, commit to a standard of excellence, and get our education system on track.