South Africa’s “complacent middle class” needs to stand together and become involved in order to make in-roads in South Africa’s failing educational system, says public interest law centre Section27 activist Mark Heywood.

Many middle-class people send their children to private schools because the quality of public schools is inadequate, but this should not allow South Africans to shut their doors on public schools, laments Heywood.

There are a number of ways the middle-class can make its voice and concerns heard about education.

“We should be active in our private schools, seeking that relationships, partnerships and twinning with public schools takes place to help those public schools build capacity and the skills base required by the country.”

Heywood notes that large employers and private companies have also shown concern for South Africa’s dismal education standards. “These firms can also become involved in raising the level and quality of education in public schools by increasing resources, ‘adopting’ a school, building and equipping a computer library and ensuring that such resources are well maintained,” suggests Heywood.

He notes, too, that ill-discipline is a serious challenge in public schools. However, he admits that this is not just a problem of government. “There are many schools with serious bullying problems and with sexual abuse problems among learners.”

“These challenges don’t just spring up overnight; they came from somewhere and issues such as overcrowded classrooms, teachers that are unable to teach properly and demoralisation all lead to problems of ill-discipline,” he explains.

Ill-discipline is a symptom of demoralisation, he says, and the problems that exist in their own right, need to be addressed.

“Parents must not underestimate the important role they play in relation to the schooling system. It mustn’t deteriorate into a blame game, we should all be on board to get this sorted together,” Heywood emphasises.

The good functioning of South Africa’s education system depends on society as a whole. When it runs into a state of dysfunction, then society is compelled to stand up and say it is intolerable and needs to be fixed.

“Society needs to take a stand and assist in getting things right,” concludes Heywood.