EDITORIAL
Education: Either free or not
School started this week, in the middle of what is generally considered the most challenging month of any year, when pockets are dry like a bone.
The huff and puff of securing school placements for kids aside, this week presents a different challenge for many parents, who are still absorbing the long list of stationery presented to them by public schools.
Almost all public schools have pulled out their begging bowls, into which communities are asked to donate. This is a sad but proactive approach by schools that were promised consistent subsidies by government after the introduction of the free education regime. They have since learnt that free education is a myth to win political plaudits and feed the world a fake impression that we are leading Africa in this respect. Absolute bollocks!
State funding has not been reaching schools as promised, prompting teachers to become creative beggars who bombard parents with requests for donations every other week. Instead of focusing on teaching, schools are forced to become enterprises of braaiing meat, selling soft drinks and hosting fundraising events. Civvies days have become more frequent since ‘free’ education hit our shores.
With unemployment on the rise, parents are already struggling to keep up with their regular bills, and now they have to cough up even more to keep their kids in schools. Free education is a political lie that must be called what it is.
School started this week, in the middle of what is generally considered the most challenging month of any year, when pockets are dry like a bone.
The huff and puff of securing school placements for kids aside, this week presents a different challenge for many parents, who are still absorbing the long list of stationery presented to them by public schools.
Almost all public schools have pulled out their begging bowls, into which communities are asked to donate. This is a sad but proactive approach by schools that were promised consistent subsidies by government after the introduction of the free education regime. They have since learnt that free education is a myth to win political plaudits and feed the world a fake impression that we are leading Africa in this respect. Absolute bollocks!
State funding has not been reaching schools as promised, prompting teachers to become creative beggars who bombard parents with requests for donations every other week. Instead of focusing on teaching, schools are forced to become enterprises of braaiing meat, selling soft drinks and hosting fundraising events. Civvies days have become more frequent since ‘free’ education hit our shores.
With unemployment on the rise, parents are already struggling to keep up with their regular bills, and now they have to cough up even more to keep their kids in schools. Free education is a political lie that must be called what it is.
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Namibian Sun
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