UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
MATRIC CERTIFICATES NOT ENOUGH
STATEMENT
ISSUED BY PROF LM MBADI, MP
UDM SPOKESPERSON FOR EDUCATION
The
UDM is encouraged by the announcement yesterday that matriculants who obtain a
certain percentage pass aggregate would be rewarded with a special certificate.
Although we welcome initiatives to recognise excellence, we call on the
Department of Education to focus its funds and efforts on more pressing and
urgent needs.
It is bitterly ironic that many schools do not have running water, electricity
or toilet facilities, not to mention textbooks and basic schooling
infrastructure. Both learners and educators are suffering due to the negligence
of the ANC government. Many educators suffer at the hands of learners, being
harassed, assaulted, threatened and abused. Female learners and educators are
intimidated and ultimately excluded from the learning community due to sexual
harassment, rape, abuse and sexual violence.
The UDM calls upon the Minister of Education to re-align his priorities to
adequately reflect the needs of educators and learners, and improve the learning
conditions for learners and educators. Furthermore the UDM cautions he Minister
of Education from being narrowly focused on the end-result, which can be, and
has been, easily manipulated, but rather to assist learners and educators to
develop intelligent young adults that will benefit South Africa.
Enquiries:
Prof L. Mtutuzeli Mbadi, MP
UDM Spokesperson for Education
082 556 5048
Cape Town
13 June 2001