7 October 2003
The South African Communist Party (SACP) salutes the curageous stance taken by the Minister of Education, Comrade Kader Asmal, in protecting and advancing the need for the strict regulation of the entry of foreign and private institutions into the Higher Education system in our country. In the face of massive pressure from the World Bank and the Centre for Development Enterprise (CDE), Minister Asmal has stood firm in defence of the integrity of our public education system.
The SACP rejects the notion advanced by the World Bank and the CDE that education is a commodity. By seeking to commodify education, it is clear that capitalism is looking for new sites of capital accumulation including education. We reaffirm that education is not a commodity. Education is a basic service which must be accessible to all in particular poor and working people through the public education system.
Specifically, the SACP slams the CDE for masquerading as a respectable research institute whilst it has actually become mercenaries of the capitalist class that wants to profit from education. We condemn the CDE's stance and proposals on the privatisation of education. In addition to opposing the stance taken by Minister Asmal, the CDE has recently proposed a voucher system and promoted the private sector as the main locomotive in public schooling. These CDE proposals are akin to promoting a new form of apartheid based on widening class inequalities at the expense of the black majority previously marginalised and disadvantaged by apartheid.
If needs be, the SACP will mobilise our alliance, mass democratic organisations, poor and working people in defence and consolidation of an efficient and quality public sector education system. The SACP calls on Minister Asmal to stand firm and ensure that government defends, advances and consolidates the public education system in our country.
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2, Fax: 27 11 339-4244, Cell: 083 651 0271
Email - mazibuko@sacp.org.za