A University of Johannesburg lecturer has lambasted the South African education system.
Musa Mdunge, an honours student in politics and an international relations and economics tutor, was speaking at the launch of the African Sports and Scholastic Initiative for Students in Townships (Assist) at Alexandra’s Number 3 Square Sports Ground.
Assist, which is an organisation of varsity students, runs after-school and weekend tutorials for Alex pupils at Pholosho Junior Secondary School. Mdunge said the education system was failing its people because of the simple reason that government had failed to fundamentally transform education.
“We still have an education system based on the pillars of apartheid and designed to produce black graduates that are meant to serve at the foot of the master,” he said. “We are not producing critical thinkers and business-minded people capable of running and starting their own conglomerates, and thereby taking this country forward in years to come.”
He said it was deplorable that the country’s education system continued to produce pupils whose only ambition was to work for someone else after completing matric and tertiary education. “Ask any scholar in our education system what they would like to do when they complete matric or graduate and the usual answer is to find a job.”
Mdunge, vice-president of 14thirty5ive, which is a youth movement involved in community work in partnership with Assist, told Alex pupils in the Assist programme that it was not circumstances that defined their future, but the choices and decisions they made.
He implored the pupils on the Assist programme to “take the opportunity and run with it, for if you do we shall be planting the seeds of success”. Mdunge also urged parents to get involved in their children’s education.
“For far too long,we have left it all to government to do everything for us. Government has a role to play, but we too should ensure that we play our part and push our children to succeed. Government will provide the infrastructure for that success,” he said.
