‘Children do not belong in race boxes,’ says Oudtshoorn civil group
Parents of mixed-race children in the Western Cape face questions about which racial category to select when completing school admission forms.
An Oudtshoorn civil group has called on the Western Cape Education Department to remove race classification from school admission forms, reports George Herald.
In a letter, People Against Race Classification (Parc) called on Western Cape Education Minister Jaco Londt to ‘immediately amend’ enrolment criteria.
Glen Snyman, the group’s leader, said Parc does not want children to be classified by race.
“Children do not belong in race boxes,” he said.
Racial classification challenged
Snyman said the Population Registration Act of 1950 was repealed in 1991 and that there are no objective scientific or legal criteria for determining a person’s racial group.
“A person’s racial classification should not be imposed upon them by the state,” the letter stated.
The organisation is particularly concerned about children from mixed-race families and what category parents are expected to select when completing the forms.
“No child should be forced into an ‘Other’ category simply because the existing racial classification system cannot accurately or appropriately accommodate them,” said Snyman.
Department responds to concerns
Western Cape Education Department communications director Bronagh Hammond said all provincial education departments are required to collect race information on learner admission forms.
She said this is in line with national reporting and planning requirements, with the information used for statistical, monitoring and equity purposes.
Hammond stressed that race is not used as an admission criterion and schools may not discriminate against learners on the basis of race.
“No learner may be refused admission for electing not to disclose this information,” she said.
Optional disclosure policy
In a letter sent directly to Parc, the department stated that race-based data helps the government identify inequalities, monitor transformation and direct resources where needed.
Parents may choose not to indicate their race, with the department stating that ‘no learner may be denied admission to any school, solely on their refusal to identify which race category they belong to’.
Four Parc members recently visited the department’s Eden and Central Karoo District Office in George to raise their concerns locally, but were referred back to the provincial office.
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Read original story on www.georgeherald.com
