The Importance Of Education

Students take cover as a tear gas canister flies through the air, during clashes with riot police during a demonstration against the government to demand changes in the public state education system in Santiago August 28, 2012. Chilean students have been protesting against what they say is profiteering in the state education system. 

REUTERS/Eliseo Fernandez

This could be a photo taken anywhere! It is in Chile, but we have seen extreme protests last year in London as well. Young people realise the importance of an education. Parents save for years & sacrifice their own pleasures to ensure a decent education for their children. Which brings me to the reason for this article.

I was fortunate enough to be educated to the extent that I am a tertiary education graduate in beautiful South Africa. Which means I have been able to acquire experience in a few different fields, from Accounting, to Business Proprietor, to Website Design & Marketing...and more. But I am fearful of the sad dropping of standards for the school-going youths of today. We need a strong, educated middle class in this country for continued competing in the World economy. In 1994, I voted for a free South Africa, reasoning that after 14 years of schooling, the new generation of school leavers would be educated to the extent of building a strong middle class with high earning potential & creating a stronger consumer base to send our economy soaring. This would make for a content population. ...... IT HASN'T HAPPENED!!

The new government has changed the education curriculum, dropped teaching standards & introduced a system riddled with inefficiency, incompetence & corruption. It is almost so entrenched now that those trying to fill the hole of dark depths of despair are finding it desperately difficult to find a way out. This leads to tension of all sorts. 

We need to find a solution, but the current leadership is too busy trying to explore legal loopholes for personal gain to make any meaningful change in National Education. The wise in the country need to inspire a change in the current leadership. They have my support.