Social Responsibility

Today I enrolled my foster son in our nearest high school. To my dismay I learned that, as many of the parents cannot afford to pay school fees, the school is now in the precarious situation of having to close its technical and electrical workshops and computer lab and get rid of approximately seven teachers. The government only funds schools up to a certain point.

This is just one of thousands of schools in South Africa that are suffering financially, resulting in sub-standard education for our children. According to Business Watch, The Star, Friday 20 August 2010, Azar Jammine, is quoted as saying that, in South Africa,:
• 1.6 million kidz started school in 1998
• Less than 36% of them wrote matric in 2009
• Less than 22% passed matric
• Only 3.7% passed mathematics

Our education system is in total disarray. These are our future leaders and we are throwing them to the dogs by not ensuring that they have the best education money can buy.

I do understand that the government also has limited resources, dependant as it is on a small tax-paying base. However, surely companies that have corporate social responsibility programmes should be investing more in education and less in sport? Sport is a luxury. Education is a necessity for the survival and advancement of any country. And not just any education. A high standard of education is required that allows children to move naturally into those fields where their true potential can be realized. Those very same companies that are ploughing millions into sport sponsorships will be crying out for suitably qualified personnel in the not too distant future. What good will a rugby or soccer player be to them then?

In the words of Alan Paton, Cry the Beloved Country.


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