THOUGHTS FROM THE OFFICE

To the parents of South Peninsula High School

Friday: 13 May 2011

Municipal Elections

You may ask why I am stating my views on the municipal elections on Wednesday 18 May 2011. It is because of my belief that education is political. The fact that SPHS still has many temporary buildings ( prefabs and mobile units ) is political. The Western Cape Education Department has taken its cue from the political party ( DA) which runs the Western Cape that excellence in education resides in the model C Schools. I deliberately state the Model C schools and not former Model C schools because these schools are different to the poor schools in that they have the necessary surplus infra-structure and resources gained over the 48 years of apartheid from our hard-earned money and they charge excessively high school fees. We therefore have WCED spending our money in building additional brick-buildings at model C schools namely Norman Henshilwood High, Groote Schuur High and Rondebosch East Primary. WCED went still further, they refurbished a teacher resource centre in Claremont to the tune of R10 million to establish Claremont High. This school is on the doorstep of a well known school Livingstone High. I consider this school as part of the poor schools in South Africa. This to my knowledge was done without consulting Livingstone High. They go even further, they ask Westerford High to manage this school. If I was the principal of Livingstone High I would feel insulted by the actions of WCED.

This brings me to the municipal elections. What is one’s vote worth. As in education one has to ask yourself, is the ANC- led Government doing all that it can to ensure that more money is spent on Local Government. Yes, we have damning reports that in all provincial municipalities are not performing. Yes, even in the DA- led coalition Western Cape but the truth is, SA is spending 70 billion rands every year to service its apartheid debt and post -1994 debt. Imagine what transformation can be achieved if the R70 billion could be spent on housing, health and education.

In South Africa there are approximately 25 000 schools of which 6 000 are high schools. How can all the primary school children fit into the 6 000 high schools? This is a national disaster. I have never exercised my right to vote and will only do so when my vote has value. You may then ask the question what is the alternative. It is setting up strong community structures who work towards a society of caring and sharing. Organisations of the people, for the people and by the people.

I am not campaigning for any political organisation inside or outside parliament, I am giving my views on the present state of affairs in SA and in education.

Brian Isaacs

Principal

13 May 2011

Comments on this letter can be sent to: admin@spenhs.wcape.school.za

Please attach your name, surname, email address and contactable telephone numbers.