Equal Education

Equal Education together with the Equal Education Law Centre have written a joint statement on the latest developments from the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. There is a need for clarity on BELA in order to correct the misinformation and disinformation surrounding this act. https://lnkd.in/duybnASe

We kick off our last National Council of the year with a powerful "Capturing Water" screening. Joined by activists Faeza and Ebrahiem from the African Water Commons Collective, we look at the layers of the water management crisis and the provision for our communities. Equal Education is interested in starting school water action committees! Please watch the trailer below for more information. https://lnkd.in/g_kSjKiN

JOINT STATEMENT VICTORY WON! We celebrate a major win in our fight for equal access to education! Through litigation and advocacy, we've made significant strides. But our work isn't done yet. We're gearing up for part B of the case next year. Read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/gSF_XiH5 #SofundaSonke #EqualEducation #AccessForAll

The Department of Basic Education and provincial education departments could have been closer to fulfilling their legal duty to learners & schools if they urgently implemented infrastructure projects, held implementing agents accountable, spent funds correctly & collected accurate school data. #FixOurSchools #NormsandStandards

Marvin Sibande, EE Community Leader from Gauteng reflects on the infrastructure challenges overcrowded schools face and the importance of the school infrastructure law deadlines in addressing them. #FixOurSchools #NormsandStandards

In the Western Cape, there are still issues such as overcrowding and admissions. Learners are often left behind due to infrastructural issues that go unsolved. Makanatsa Ziyambi, EE Community Leader and National Council member reflects on provincial education departments’ use of prefabricated classrooms as a response to learner growth.

Today we celebrate the anniversary of the victory of the Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure. Although this was a hard-fought win, we still see that there is more work that needs to be done. Especially in provinces such as the Eastern Cape. Athi Zangqa Equal Education's organiser produced this short documentary highlighting the issues that school going children in the Eastern Cape are facing. We call upon the Department of Basic Education to implement deadlines and #FixOurSchools. #normsandstandards https://lnkd.in/dugK3iZP

Victory! One of our longstanding sites of struggle, Tutwana Primary School in Ga-Mashashane, finally received safe toilets earlier this month! These toilets restore the dignity of our learners and safeguard their immediately realisable right to education! Here is Chantel Setumu, a grade 11 learner from, Botsikana High School who was a former learner at Tutwana Primary School. Chantel is speaking about her experiences as a former learner in Tutwana before there was water and sanitation. #NormsandStandards #FixOurSchools

Our relentless school infrastructure advocacy using the Norms and Standards proves how impactful clear deadlines are in compelling the government to take action. Before the Department of Basic Education removed them, the law required ALL schools to have an adequate supply of water and sanitation facilities by 2020. Even though the Department of Basic Education failed to meet these deadlines, the clear targets were instrumental in holding them and the Department of Basic Education Limpopo accountable, and for our advocacy to urgently secure water & dignified toilets to schools such as Tutwana Primary School in Ga-Mashashane #FixOurSchools #NormsandStandards

In 2022, the Department of Basic Education finally decided to implement the court order and address Equal Education, and the Equal Education Law Centre's long and public struggle to #FixTheNorms. Equal Education and the Equal Education Law Centre stated that the “DBE’s proposed changes to the school infrastructure law essentially erased crucial mechanisms for holding education departments accountable. The scariest of the proposed changes was the removal of the deadlines for providing schools with safe and proper infrastructure.” In June this year, the Department Of Basic Education finally released an amended version of the school infrastructure law. Tragically our biggest fear was confirmed as key deadlines for when schools should be provided with infrastructure were removed. Deadlines create a sense of urgency and when they are removed it makes it harder for accountability to take place. Read our previously joint written statement in the link below. #normsandstandards https://shorter.me/Gm0AJ