The African National Congress (ANC)-led government has failed the nation by not providing free education in all public schools, the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) said on Wednesday.
”Cosas demands that all private schools be nationalised and further demands the provision of free education in all public schools,” Cosas president Kenny Motshegoa said in a statement after the students’ national executive committee (NEC) meeting last week.
”We demand the scrapping of school fees, history to be a compulsory subject and a productive working-class perspective curriculum,”
Motshegoa said the NEC meeting assessed the education and political situation in the country.
”The NEC noted that the no-fee school strategy was an act of running away from responsibility to provide adequate resources by the government, as it does not address the basic requirements in our schools,” Motshegoa said.
The students also called for an increase in the age limit for consumption of liquor to the age of 21.
”We demand that the liquor industry must provide rehabilitation centres in all districts of the country as part of their social responsibility to those prepared to quit, and focused programmes must be funded to achieve awareness on the need for the youth to refrain form the abuse of liquor.”
They also called for the involvement of students in the fight against HIV/Aids.
Motshegoa said the students also resolved to influence the policy of the ANC and that of government.
Cosas would recommend the extension of school nutrition to high schools, business ownership by students, free education, nationalisation of private schools, provision of a single school uniform nationally and safety in schools.
The students also re-affirmed their support for ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma as future president of the party and the country.
Motshegoa said the NEC had declared March 16 as a national day of militant action against the Department of Education in demand of free and compulsory education. — Sapa