Brian Wafawarowa Opinion
The current crisis in education poses one of the greatest threats ever to long-term development, peace and reconciliation in South Africa. The unheard truths about the atrocities perpetrated against the South African child through the denial of a decent education are as grievous as what has emerged at the truth commission.
The casualties of the denial of education are illiterate and ignorant: they have to face life without the necessary skills. The result of such denial is poverty, crime and a crippled sense of identity. A serious effort must be made to address the situation. The consistent under-performance of the South African child in world science, technology and mathematical performance is an alarming reminder that our past is still with us.
A culture of reading inside and outside formal learning is required to get rid of the illiteracy of South Africa’s adult population and to make sure that today’s youth do not suffer the same fate as many of their parents. This calls for learning materials and books in schools, the provision of adult education material and the general development of an atmosphere where reading becomes a national hobby.
The current situation – where the schools have to do without learning materials and where the publishing industry sits without a market for its books, despite having invested heavly in developing new materials -is a sure recipe for disaster. Publishers have a crucial role to play in the rebuilding of this country. Vast capital is required to develop material and books for schools and adult learners, especially now that all learning materials have to be redeveloped in line with new policy.
Many countries in Africa made the mistake of implementing national book policies that destabilised their publishing industries. When they realised that they needed the services of a thriving publishing industry, it was too late.
The crisis facing the South African publishing industry today is as much a national crisis as the education crisis. Government’s intention to provide quality education for all is a noble dream -and this dream needs to be translated into reality through learner- support materials and delivery. Publishers in the educational sector provide the necessary skills to translate the new education ethos into learning materials, and to deliver these materials timeously to the learner. The publisher provides the necessary capital to develop these materials.
We cannot achieve a peaceful, prosperous South Africa if children and adults remain ignorant and illiterate. Apart from developing literacy, every effort has to be made to unlearn the propaganda of apartheid and racial bigotry. We have to make sure that our children identify their place in Africa. We must clear the backlog of illiteracy among adults and make sure that our children do not suffer the same fate. Books and learning resources are necessary for that and the publishing industry has a vital role to play.
As we celebrate World Day of the Book, we draw hope from President Nelson Mandela’s promise that every child will begin the next school year with the necessary books.
We dream of a South Africa where new books and second-hand books are sold in the marketplace together with vegetables and other essentials, as is the case in other African countries. We also hope that the education authorities help to develop a book- reading nation and that they realise that the publishing industry is an essential player in delivering the dream of quality education for all.