Letters | Vandalism of schools
'The harsh reality is that corruption continues to drain resources that should be directed towards improving education."
It is both disturbing and heartbreaking to learn that schools across the province continue to be targets of vandalism and repeated break-ins, as reported in The Witness of June 9.
These criminal acts not only damage infrastructure but also rob pupils of opportunities to receive quality education in a safe and conducive environment. The pleas from affected communities for the Department of Education to intervene are entirely justified.
Parents are calling for schools to be adequately guarded against criminal elements. Schools are state assets and centres of learning that nurture the future leaders, professionals, and citizens of our country. Their protection should be regarded as a priority, not an afterthought.
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What is particularly troubling is that many of those responsible for these crimes are often from the communities the schools serve and, in some instances, may even be former pupils. Communities must therefore be continuously educated about the value of schools and the long-term benefits they bring.
Teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, and countless other professionals often emerge from these institutions and return to uplift their communities.
While it is true that schools were frequently targeted during the pre-1994 era as a form of resistance against unequal education policies and discriminatory funding, such justifications have no place in a democratic South Africa.
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Although our education system still faces significant challenges, vandalism and theft only worsen existing problems and further disadvantage already struggling schools. The harsh reality is that corruption continues to drain resources that should be directed towards improving education.
However, the failures of governance can never justify the destruction of educational facilities. Every stolen computer, broken window, or damaged classroom is an attack on the future of our children.
The time has come for government to allocate dedicated security personnel to schools and ensure that these institutions are protected around the clock.
JAY JUGWANTH Northdale