SOUTH AFRICA'S SCHOOL SYSTEM
Too many children in South Africa are being denied a good education simply because they don’t speak English. The South African schooling system is structured with two types of classes which continue the legacy of apartheid, the English speaking classes and the non-English speaking classes. The latter are found in “locations” as the blacks-only Townships of the apartheid era are now called . These locations are underfunded and ignored, making it difficult for the children to get a worthwhile education. Even if a student in the non-English speaking classes makes it through, the universities, politics, and most well-paying jobs all require proficiency in English. This makes it vital for children in South Africa to speak English before they reach primary school.
We resolved to help by working with the EACC to put together an ESL program for their students that is just as funded and furnished as one a kid in the US would enjoy.
A SHORT HISTORY LESSON
Throughout history, the global pattern of marginalization of one group by another because of differences in religion, culture, race, etc has prevailed. In South Africa, the effects of European colonization still haven’t been fully resolved, leading to millions of native South Africans to be denied the same education and rights as the South Africans of European descent. This global pattern of discrimination can be further characterized by the lack of equal education opportunities for the oppressed group. This historic problem is not something that can be solved overnight or by one project. But, one thing that is certain is that ignorance and lack of education will only hinder social and economic advancement.
The entire infrastructure of the South African schooling system favors children who speak English, a language the majority of poor, native South Africans don’t speak, putting them at an inherent disadvantage. This project addresses that by creating an ESL program to teach the children English before they get to primary education so they can be afforded the same opportunities as the native English speakers.
