Wednesday 28 October

Basic education

OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION FROM CENTRE FOR CHILD LAW, CALS, EE, EE LAW CENTRE, SECTION 27 AND LRC

On 22 June 2012, SECTION27, the Legal Resources Centre, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, the Centre for Child Law, Equal Education and the Equal Education Law Centre sent an open letter to the Minister of Basic Education. In this letter we detailed our concerns about the barriers to quality basic education and the urgent need to address the lapses in the administration of education. We requested an urgent meeting with the Minister in order to discuss a way forward.

By Section27, ago

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REACHED ON PROVISION OF TEXTBOOKS TO LEARNERS IN GRADES R, 1, 2, 3 AND 10 IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE

Today representatives of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and SECTION27 met to try to resolve the ongoing challenge of availability of textbooks to learners in Limpopo and compliance with the court order of Judge Kollapen, which was delivered on 17 May 2012. The case was brought by SECTION27, Hanyani Thomo Secondary School and Mrs Lydia Masiphephethu. The parties agreed that all textbooks would be delivered to all schools by 27 June 2012 and that the DBE will develop a plan for extra tuition and support for learners and teachers to remedy the effects of the lack of textbooks for half of the academic year.

By Section27, ago

Statement by SECTION27 and the NASGB on the Limpopo Education Crisis

This week a task team made up of leaders of the National Association of School Governing Bodies and SECTION27 visited schools in three districts in Limpopo; Vhembe, Mopani and Capricorn. The purpose of the visit was to meet with members of SGBs, learners, teachers and school principals to report back on the May 17th judgment of the Pretoria High Court and to assess compliance with the Court’s Order, as well as to discuss other aspects of the deepening crisis in education in Limpopo.

By Section27, ago

GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO PROTECT LEARNERS FROM SEXUAL ABUSE IN SCHOOLS

24 May 2012

Lawyers against Abuse (LvA) and SECTION27 are horrified by the pervasive and endemic sexual violence perpetrated by staff against learners in South African schools. We are particularly concerned that we are seeing a systemic failure to protect and respect the victim and to punish the perpetrator in such cases. We call upon the justice system, the police, the Department of Education, the South African Council of Educators, trade union movements and teachers and management to whom this violence is reported in schools across the country to improve the response to this violence and to cease protecting teachers who commit acts of sexual violence against learners.

By Section27, ago

URGENT APPLICATION TO DEMAND TEXTBOOKS IN LIMPOPO SCHOOLS TO BE HEARD ON MONDAY 14 MAY 2012 IN THE NORTH GAUTENG HIGH COURT

THE RIGHT TO A BASIC EDUCATION CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT ESSENTIAL TEXTBOOKS!!

On 4 May 2012 SECTION27 launched an urgent application against the Minister of Basic Education and the Limpopo Department of Education in relation to their complete failure to procure and deliver textbooks for learners throughout Limpopo. Learners have gone without textbooks for five months this school year.

By Section27, ago

The Right to an ‘adequate’ and ‘equal’ education in South Africa

An analysis of s. 29(1)(a) of the South African Constitution and the right to equality as applied to basic education.
SECTION27 are pleased to publish a draft research paper on “The Right to an ‘adequate’ and ‘equal’ education in South Africa: An analysis of s. 29(1)(a) of the South African Constitution and the right to equality as applied to basic education” by respected Canadian constitutional lawyer, Vince Calderhead. We would welcome comments and inputs on the paper.

By Section27, ago

Current OSD offer still disadvantages rural communities

The Rural Health Advocacy Project, Rural Doctors Association of Southern Africa, SECTION27 and Wits Centre for Rural Health support SAMA’s rejection of the final OSD offer to public sector doctors. By accepting the Government’s OSD offer, collective labour in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council will be contributing to a major setback in Government’s strides to achieve health for all. By offering only marginal increases to medical officers in particular, rural communities are likely to see a further exodus of rural doctors to urban areas, the private sector, and overseas.
Rural patients are disadvantaged in many ways: poverty levels are higher, access to basic services and education is poor, travel to health facilities is costly, facilities are understaffed and waiting times are out of control; now they can expect even fewer doctors to attend to their needs.

By Section27, ago
WDA