Equal Public Schooling in Post-Apartheid South Africa, a Pipe-Dream Or Reality

Seventeen years after the advent of democracy the South African schooling system is still divided between the rich and the poor. The rich and the middle-class parents send their children to more affluent schools i.e. the former model C schools and private schools, while the poor parents are compelled to send theirs to township and rural schools. The above scenario depicts the inequality that is evident in our country, and the two kinds of schooling systems assist in reinforcing the current status quo.

One will also find that despite the transformation of the funding formula for schools, the resources in more affluent schools are still more than those in less affluent schools. The state's funding formula is more geared towards the so-called historically disadvantaged schools. But despite that the former model C schools ensure that they supplement the smaller amount of funding they receive from the state by charging higher fees from parents and raise funds from donors.

Matric Results 2011 – Facts behind figures

The recent 2011 National release of the full-time public Grade 12 results was well received by the nation. According to the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, last year’s results were 70, 2% and showed an improvement of 2, 4%.

Although as a country we have to celebrate this sustained improvement in our Grade 12 results, there seems to be a gloomy picture behind these promising numbers. Nationally the total number of full-time Grade 12 learners that enrolled was 511038 in 2011. Out of that total enrolment the total number of full-time candidates who actually set for the National Senior Certificate examinations was 496090. Almost 3% of enrolled learners did not write the examination.