Raft of demands handed over
Hundreds of rookies marched under the banner of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) to the Division of Common Education in Pretoria.
Newcomers, accrued dressed in their college’s uniforms, arrived from spherical Gauteng and the North West. At some stage in the march, some held up posters calling for the resignation of Minister of Common Education Siviwe Gwarube.
COSAS is historically aligned with the ANC. Gwarube is with the DA and was minister in July when the government of national cohesion was formed.
Sophie Jonas, a grade 10 learner from Hammanskraal, acknowledged she joined the march to demand improvements at township colleges. “We would like our schools to be maintained, and for the area’s around the school to be clean and safe. Maybe more classes or schools need to be built as sometimes classrooms are overcrowded,” she acknowledged.
Deputy secretary overall of COSAS Busang Lekeka acknowledged they’re also advocating for the combination of technology in colleges to better prepare rookies for a digital future.
“Currently we have a situation where some learners’ first experience of using a laptop is when they enter the tertiary education system. This is unacceptable,” acknowledged Lekeka.
COSAS leaders demanded that Minister Gwarube approach out and hear to their demands nonetheless police told them that the minister was unavailable.
COSAS President Kamogelo Nkosi told the protesting rookies that they would give the minister 14 days to retort to their demands which embody
- increased spending on college infrastructure,
- integrating the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” into the college curriculum,
- vocational coaching in subjects similar to agriculture,
- increased charge range for upkeep in colleges, and
- improved pupil transport.
Nkosi also echoed the name for the minister to resign, claiming that she is failing rookies and that her behavior in implementing the Bela Act was proof that she is unfit to lead the department.
“We want to see better township schools so that black children can learn in safety and dignity.” He acknowledged they would return if the minister didn’t retort to their demands before handing the memo over to diversified department officers.
