By: Sello Theletsane
Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has called on the government to stop funding privately owned schools, particularly at this difficult time of Covid-19.
“It does not make sense for government to continue funding institutions which are already making huge profits through the exorbitant and unregulated fees they charge. Why should private schools which are private businesses receive money from both their customers and the government at the same time whilst a spaza shop in the community receives no such support?
“What is special about private schools that the government has to spend additional resources on them?” Makaneta asked.
He argued that private schools are owned by individuals, “yet they receive huge subsidies from the state”.
“This must stop because such funds can be used to improve public schools by building additional classes amongst others.”
“As education activists, it is our duty to help in the improvement of education in our country and it is our submission that the funding of private schools further exacerbates the existing problem of inequality in the already highly contested terrain of education by widening the gap between the rich and the poor in our society, something that should never be encouraged at all.”
“We have too many public schools which are struggling to make ends meet. Why must we channel more money to private businesses in the form of private schools when we lack classrooms and proper toilets in public schools?”
Your spot on my brother.