We members of YCL hold the forum's mouthpiece as a revolutionary instrument to
enhance and consolidate debates in the current conjucture and key to that
principle is to entrench correct education for young people of the rich history
of our struggle and heritage.
It is with pure dismay to have read in the Sunday Newspaper to be confronted
with the minimalist approach which suggestedin my view to de-politicise the
youth of our beloved country by saying"Political opinions should be voiced
after the age of 18" Page 22 City Press Viewpoints and Analysis
This kind of a view should not be unchallenged.This article further continued
to attack the integrity and the history of COSAS with has produced candid
comrades for our movement such as Frans Mohlala,Ephraim Mogale,Stan Mathabathe
and others in the country.
The struggle that Students waged at that time cannot be separated from the
struggles that were waged against the Colonialism of a Special Kind as per the
horrible experiences of the Apartheid Government.Young people continues to be
confronted with the same challenges around Education system modelled to favour
only the capitalist chldren,lack of resources,few textbooks to
study,privitisation of education,hasty implemented methods of education such as
OBE,private schools and exlusivity in provisioning of education.
We view this article as the continued disrespect of the Intellect of young
people in their own rights.Resolutions were made to lower the age on allowing
young people to a Right to Vote to the age of 16,which in my view is still
relevant because Young people are the future and it is incumbent of young
people to shape the kind of governance will be relevant for their interests.
Theory becomes purposeless if it is not connected with revolutionary
practice,just as practice gropes in the dark if its path is not illumined by
revolutionary theory.The standpoint of practice is the primary basic standpoint
in the dialectical materialist theory of knowledge.COSAS in my view by marching
to the Consitutional Court put these historical understandings into practice.
How does the learned councillor measure the Relevancy and Appropriateness of
the view:I do give her political education fit for her age and appreciate that
she'll grow up to make her own political choices when she is 18.
The point is the kind of Uniform we put in the previous regime was a political
decision,the kind of infrastructure for the marginalised was a political
decision impacting on young learners at both primary and secondary level.Why is
specific and special about the age 18?
COSAS organises young Students as soon as they enter senior phases of the
currents system and they do not organises and mobilises selectively at the same
phase.
Why are learners given assignment and projects at both inter-mediate and senior
phases about political history in schools arounnd for example topics relating
to Sobukwe.Mandela.Sontoga etc.There are many lessons to learn from these
iconic Hero's and Heroines of our struggle no matter the age group.
Leaners must learn but the system of imparting education cannot be conducted as
a neutral phenomenon.Education have proved in our country that it was used as
an instrument to entrench Cololialism of as Special Kind through the harsh
experiences our country has learned in the past 35 years of oppression in which
our learned councillor is a product of.
The key question will be where does the daughter of our learned councillor
attend school at?The answer will be a private school with its dirty policy of
exclusivity,only rich capitalist who continues to milk our economy.
The minimalist assertion that "The indictment is out of all parents for
allowing COSAS to still exist in its curent form" should not be left
un-challenged.This is near distortion of the same institution our honorable
councillor is sitting at as COSAS REMAINS OUR RICH HISTORY IN STUDENT POLTICS
OF OUR COUNTRY.
Indeed Practise is higher than(Theoretical)knowledge,for it has not only the
dignity of universality,but also the of immediate actuality.COSAS were
responding to that revolutionary principle.
It is not yet UHURU!!!!!!!!!!
Mampane Norman
(POPCRU National Educator writing in his personal capacity)
0720737959
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