On May 7 this year we heard that one of our learners was shot and killed — allegedly by another learner in what was believed to be a crime of passion.
Though the shooting happened during a weekend, such incidents contribute to parents sending their kids to more affluent schools that are perceived to be safer.
This brings me to the subject I wish to discuss.
Parents stretch their budgets far beyond their means to pay for their children’s schooling. It is common knowledge that parents want the best for their kids and try to give them more than what they received during their own schooling years. But I wish the people who are concerned about the education of their children, and education in general, would engage in some critical thinking on this subject.
I have observed school fees, both for primary and secondary public schools in South Africa have risen to levels that are even higher than the fees charged by some further education and training colleges (former technical colleges) and universities of technology (former technikons). I think this is serious cause for concern.
I am in no way suggesting that those people who can afford to pay these fees should stop sending their kids to schools that charge high fees, but my concern is that people are not saving for the higher education of their kids. One way of ensuring children receive quality schooling, and to save money for after school studies, is to search for schools around townships and in rural areas that still provide good quality education.
My experience is that we still have good schools in townships and in rural areas. Matriculation results in the past five to eight years in KwaZulu-Natal prove my point. We have had schools performing far better than some of the former model-C schools and even better than some of the private schools.
These schools, on average, charge each learner R600 a year. Learners coming from such schools have performed quite well at universities. In other words, high fees do not equal quality and low fees do not equal bad quality. Everything depends entirely on the dedication of the teachers in each school.
I want to assure everybody out there, both black and white, that there are good schools just around the corner. It is my strongest belief that if people were to begin to send learners to such schools and give educators much-needed support, more good work will prevail, even in those schools that are perceived to be performing below the expected level.
I would like to hear from parents and educators from other parts of the country about their experiences on this subject. My beliefs are clear: the success of this nation depends on what is happening within the four walls of the classroom and is not dependent on the amount charged by each school.
Thokozani Mabaso is the principal of Ezakheleni High School in Empangeni in KwZulu-Natal