Reformed policies needed to eradicate ‘educational apartheid’

The difference in performance in the matric results announced by education minister Siviwe Gwarube earlier this year highlights a huge disparity arguably as a result of what I call “educational apartheid”. Private and independent schools continue to be consistent as high performers in educational deliverables as opposed to public schools. The Eastern Cape Province public schools declined this year from 84.4% in 2024 to 84.2%, and this could be the same with all other provinces across the country.

Conversely, private and independent schools in the said province excelled in all subjects, with some posting 100% distinctions. Most of their pupils made it into top achievers positions. This should be concerning to all educational stakeholders in the Eastern Cape and there is a need for a bird’s eye view analysis in order to improve the quality of education for pupils in rural and high density suburbs to match that of their counterparts the more affluent suburbs.

To begin with, private and independent schools are adequately resourced as a result of competent tuition fees that they charge, which, in turn, attracts highly qualified teachers as compared to their counterparts in the public schools. This improves teachers’ welfare, which includes salaries and sometimes upkeep through fringe benefits. The pupils, as well as teachers in private and independent schools, have access to the latest methods of studying, which includes well-resourced libraries connected to wi-fi, which also exposes them to better teaching methods.

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Availability of resources also leads to world-class infrastructure in the form of classrooms which are not overcrowded, as opposed to the public school classrooms which sometimes lack adequate ventilation. Private and independent schools build scientific laboratories, fully equipped libraries with the latest textbooks and have good sporting facilities. Most pupils who attend private and independent schools are exposed to sporting disciplines like basketball, tennis, swimming, cricket and hockey, to mention but just a few, as opposed to their counterparts in public schools where soccer, netball and running are the order of the day.

Teacher to student interaction in private schools is enhanced due to smaller ratios. In the process the pupils gain from individualised attention.

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