CONCLUSION

As we approach twenty years of our democracy, we are still a nation in transition from ‘what was to what can be’. Unemployment remains unacceptably high and, although the level of unemployment has many root causes, the legacy of a poor education system for many of our people remains a primary reason for this situation. We do, however, remain confident that education can be turned around, but in order for this to happen we need make sure that each Rand committed to education is spent optimally. Within the context of Africa, South Africa has one of the highest budget lines dedicated to education but the results achieved do not reflect the amount spent on education.

As mentioned earlier in this report, the National Assessment testing being undertaken will provide a baseline against which improvement or failure can be measured, and it is hoped that where things are not working remedial action will be swift and decisive.

Our interactions with corporate and individuals show that there is a desire to ‘get education right’ and that funding from these sources will flow if they can see that their contributions are being used well and that the quality of education outputs is constantly improving. The HSRP is committed to being part of solution to education in South Africa and believes that we can make a difference in ensuring a brighter future for our children.

William Butler Yeats wrote: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire’.” We, as a nation, need to light that fire, not only in our children, but in our educators too. Parents need to be actively involved and the unions need to use their influence wisely and be part of the solution. Collectively we can make a difference in ensuring that our children will find a place in our nation, where they can contribute in a positive way in building this country and ensuring a bright future not only for themselves but also for their children.

Ruins of an old staff house at Healdtown.