The DA’s newly appointed Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, would exert pressure on her cabinet colleagues to address issues like pit toilets.
It is unfathomable, according to Gwarube, that schools in provinces like Limpopo and the Eastern Cape are still losing pupils to pit toilets 30 years since the dawn of democracy.
Gwarube was speaking after she was sworn in as the minister of basic education on Wednesday, taking over from Angie Motshekga, who has been moved to the defence ministry.
For the sake of the pupils’ safety, she stated that it is time to upgrade the educational system by eliminating pit toilets in rural schools.
Pit toilets remain a concern
“The issue around dealing with pit toilets in provinces like Limpopo and the Eastern Cape and working with my cabinet colleagues and putting pressure on them is that some of these things don’t fall within the Department of Education,” she said.
“Some fall within transport, and others fall under public works, so I look forward to using my seat to put pressure on my colleagues. We need to eradicate pit toilets.”
She added that the poor numeracy and literacy rates in the country will hinder the readiness of the children for future economies.
“The issue around literacy and numeracy rates in South Africa is very important. If we are going to raise a generation of children who are going to be primed for future economies, we need to get that right urgently.”
She went on to say that she was excited to discuss potential improvements to the experience and standards of teachers with trade unions.
Attack on the union
The Democratic Teachers Union of South Africa (Sadtu) has made it clear that it will not back Gwarube in her appointment to the government of national unity.
Gwarube’s appointment, according to Sadtu secretary Xolani Fakude, could be compared to an attack on the union.
“We are not happy at all; in fact, we are taken aback by this appointment,” said Fakude.
“We know the DA; we have seen how they operate in the Western Cape and how black schools in the townships are neglected.
“We know that we will not be assisted by this appointment, and we will be watching this minister closely.”
Fakude said Motshekga made progress while serving as minister of basic education.
“We have seen a number of policy interventions that came into the picture, from mother tongue language prioritisation to history as a compulsory subject at certain grades.
