This country desperately needs education

I was recently moved by a book called “My Mother’s Lovers” by Christopher Hope. It’s about South Africa and its current problems. I could not help thinking how we can begin to make a difference. I believe the answer lies in education. This is where we should focus much more of our energy, but not just education in maths, geography, etc. but also and almost more importantly in values. Respect for other peoples lives, reward for putting in some sweat, accepting responsibility for your choices, these types of things. But the little education available to most children today in South Africa is of poor quality. The scale of the improvement required is enormous. It’s in the interest of our own children that the situation improves, because on the long run it will mean more stability for the country. I’m still brooding on this.

3 Responses to “This country desperately needs education”

  1. Ek kan nie meer saamstem nie. Moraliteit in ons land “is at an all time low”, maar ek wonder net of ‘n mens dit in ‘n klas kan leer.

  2. So when is your next post coming along Katinka?

    On the above: I agree 100%. Good quality education will probably have improved value systems as a by-product, but it can’t hurt addressing it specifically in the curriculum. Exposure to information and being given the tools to find and unlock it is paramount. Education need to give greater depth of insight and critical thinking skills to our children. I believe the single thing that can make the biggest difference in South Africa, any country for that matter, is education. It impacts on tolerance, understanding of macro and micro issues, employment, economic growth, competitiveness, democracy, etc., etc.

    Attie, to address the morality question, perhaps ‘we’ should just convert the whole country to Christianity! Just joking :-) .

  3. One more thing, I actually posted on BEE about a month ago and the education issue featured very strongly in my rantings. If you’re interested go to http://inside-south-africa.blogspot.com/2008/06/to-bee-or-not-to-bee.html

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