[Music] my earliest memory off school dates back
my earliest memory off school dates back
my earliest memory off school dates back to 1992 the year before I started grade
to 1992 the year before I started grade
to 1992 the year before I started grade one we were dead-set with my grandmother
one we were dead-set with my grandmother
one we were dead-set with my grandmother that I was going to go to a particular
that I was going to go to a particular
that I was going to go to a particular school because this school was viewed or
school because this school was viewed or
school because this school was viewed or deemed to be a very good school it was
deemed to be a very good school it was
deemed to be a very good school it was an English medium school and my
an English medium school and my
an English medium school and my grandmother believed that because they
grandmother believed that because they
grandmother believed that because they teach in English it should therefore be
teach in English it should therefore be
teach in English it should therefore be a good school my application was however
a good school my application was however
a good school my application was however unsuccessful I did not get to the school
unsuccessful I did not get to the school
unsuccessful I did not get to the school and I was very depressed
and I was very depressed
and I was very depressed I was devastated for a six-year-old to
I was devastated for a six-year-old to
I was devastated for a six-year-old to not have gotten into the school I ended
not have gotten into the school I ended
not have gotten into the school I ended up at a local primary school in lab high
up at a local primary school in lab high
up at a local primary school in lab high primary school and it was a walking
primary school and it was a walking
primary school and it was a walking distance from my grandmother’s house and
distance from my grandmother’s house and
distance from my grandmother’s house and when I looked back today I am grateful
when I looked back today I am grateful
when I looked back today I am grateful to have gone to in-lab high grateful
to have gone to in-lab high grateful
to have gone to in-lab high grateful because I had an opportunity to be
because I had an opportunity to be
because I had an opportunity to be taught in my mother tongue is tazza
taught in my mother tongue is tazza
taught in my mother tongue is tazza a language I can speak read and write
a language I can speak read and write
a language I can speak read and write exceptionally well today when I also
exceptionally well today when I also
exceptionally well today when I also looked back and I realized that home
looked back and I realized that home
looked back and I realized that home language instruction has somehow always
language instruction has somehow always
language instruction has somehow always been deemed to be inferior and if your
been deemed to be inferior and if your
been deemed to be inferior and if your child is taught in English therefore
child is taught in English therefore
child is taught in English therefore that that’s the better way of educating
that that’s the better way of educating
that that’s the better way of educating I did my fourth year research on home
I did my fourth year research on home
I did my fourth year research on home language instruction and it was clear
language instruction and it was clear
language instruction and it was clear that if you teach a child in their
that if you teach a child in their
that if you teach a child in their mother tongue at least in the foundation
mother tongue at least in the foundation
mother tongue at least in the foundation years of learning they will do far
years of learning they will do far
years of learning they will do far better later on in their lives by the
better later on in their lives by the
better later on in their lives by the end of grade six going into grade seven
end of grade six going into grade seven
end of grade six going into grade seven my father a businessman living in power
my father a businessman living in power
my father a businessman living in power in the Western Cape negotiates with my
in the Western Cape negotiates with my
in the Western Cape negotiates with my grandmother and asks her if we could
grandmother and asks her if we could
grandmother and asks her if we could join him in Paul in order for us to
join him in Paul in order for us to
join him in Paul in order for us to access better
he had to negotiate with my grandmother
he had to negotiate with my grandmother because who is going to raise two young
because who is going to raise two young
because who is going to raise two young girls if he wants to take them on but
girls if he wants to take them on but
girls if he wants to take them on but because they have always been in a
because they have always been in a
because they have always been in a pursuit for good education good quality
pursuit for good education good quality
pursuit for good education good quality education
education
education my grandmother agreed that my father
my grandmother agreed that my father
my grandmother agreed that my father could take my sister and I in pursuit of
could take my sister and I in pursuit of
could take my sister and I in pursuit of a good education so here’s a scenario of
a good education so here’s a scenario of
a good education so here’s a scenario of learner migration here’s a scenario of
learner migration here’s a scenario of
learner migration here’s a scenario of children who lived in the Eastern Cape
children who lived in the Eastern Cape
children who lived in the Eastern Cape born in the Eastern Cape with their
born in the Eastern Cape with their
born in the Eastern Cape with their Korean mother and their mother and have
Korean mother and their mother and have
Korean mother and their mother and have this maternal support people raising
this maternal support people raising
this maternal support people raising them but having to leave the province
them but having to leave the province
them but having to leave the province and migrate because clearly there isn’t
and migrate because clearly there isn’t
and migrate because clearly there isn’t good education the problems we leave for
good education the problems we leave for
good education the problems we leave for the beautiful wine town of Paul in the
the beautiful wine town of Paul in the
the beautiful wine town of Paul in the Western Cape and we attend a series of
Western Cape and we attend a series of
Western Cape and we attend a series of interviews to get into a Catholic
interviews to get into a Catholic
interviews to get into a Catholic Primary School we eventually get in
Primary School we eventually get in
Primary School we eventually get in Andrey accepted I’m only there for one
Andrey accepted I’m only there for one
Andrey accepted I’m only there for one year and to prove my point of home
year and to prove my point of home
year and to prove my point of home language instruction I first top of my
language instruction I first top of my
language instruction I first top of my class in grade seven in an English
class in grade seven in an English
class in grade seven in an English medium Catholic private school I do
medium Catholic private school I do
medium Catholic private school I do pretty well and by the end of that year
pretty well and by the end of that year
pretty well and by the end of that year I am already very well acquainted with
I am already very well acquainted with
I am already very well acquainted with good schools in the region in fact the
good schools in the region in fact the
good schools in the region in fact the whole country and at this point I’m well
whole country and at this point I’m well
whole country and at this point I’m well aware of the typical location of good
aware of the typical location of good
aware of the typical location of good schools I know where they are situated
schools I know where they are situated
schools I know where they are situated and I know where they are not I also
and I know where they are not I also
and I know where they are not I also know that great schools are often almost
know that great schools are often almost
know that great schools are often almost always white I also know that good
always white I also know that good
always white I also know that good schools have a culture a very strong
schools have a culture a very strong
schools have a culture a very strong culture of sports and sportsmanship I
culture of sports and sportsmanship I
culture of sports and sportsmanship I also know that good schools are very
also know that good schools are very
also know that good schools are very expensive almost exclusive and elitist
expensive almost exclusive and elitist
expensive almost exclusive and elitist applied to my preferred school high
applied to my preferred school high
applied to my preferred school high school for grade eight and I apply well
school for grade eight and I apply well
school for grade eight and I apply well on time and I really look forward to my
on time and I really look forward to my
on time and I really look forward to my acceptance letter I don’t think I read
acceptance letter I don’t think I read
acceptance letter I don’t think I read further than thank you for for your
further than thank you for for your
further than thank you for for your application to La Rochelle goals
application to La Rochelle goals
application to La Rochelle goals hi your application is unfortunately
hi your application is unfortunately
hi your application is unfortunately unsuccessful so I was devastated
unsuccessful so I was devastated
unsuccessful so I was devastated ah it broke me and I remember not
ah it broke me and I remember not
ah it broke me and I remember not understanding why but with the help of
understanding why but with the help of
understanding why but with the help of my father who felt I was crying over
my father who felt I was crying over
my father who felt I was crying over split milk he thought there are better
split milk he thought there are better
split milk he thought there are better school schools let’s apply to another
school schools let’s apply to another
school schools let’s apply to another one and we did now the school he wanted
one and we did now the school he wanted
one and we did now the school he wanted me to go to is Powell’s high
me to go to is Powell’s high
me to go to is Powell’s high now Powell’s high in Powell is
now Powell’s high in Powell is
now Powell’s high in Powell is affectionately known as were mrs.
affectionately known as were mrs.
affectionately known as were mrs. welfare oh and very much would not
welfare oh and very much would not
welfare oh and very much would not resonate with in the first instance so
resonate with in the first instance so
resonate with in the first instance so how am I going to be excited about it
how am I going to be excited about it
how am I going to be excited about it going to the school but I eventually get
going to the school but I eventually get
going to the school but I eventually get in and I’m not thrilled really I’m not
in and I’m not thrilled really I’m not
in and I’m not thrilled really I’m not excited this for me is just last resort
excited this for me is just last resort
excited this for me is just last resort oh really I really wanted the other
oh really I really wanted the other
oh really I really wanted the other school I arrive at power goals high and
state-of-the-art buildings teachers who
state-of-the-art buildings teachers who are subject matter experts in their
are subject matter experts in their
are subject matter experts in their fields and this is a bunch of passionate
fields and this is a bunch of passionate
fields and this is a bunch of passionate people there is a myriad of sporting
people there is a myriad of sporting
people there is a myriad of sporting codes to choose from I take up hockey I
codes to choose from I take up hockey I
codes to choose from I take up hockey I play netball even though it was all f
play netball even though it was all f
play netball even though it was all f team but I was part of her team and I
team but I was part of her team and I
team but I was part of her team and I auditioned to form part of the choir I
auditioned to form part of the choir I
auditioned to form part of the choir I learned to swim because swimming was
learned to swim because swimming was
learned to swim because swimming was compulsory for all the girls in the
compulsory for all the girls in the
compulsory for all the girls in the school but the values were not hanging
school but the values were not hanging
school but the values were not hanging on walls
on walls
on walls we lived them so the culture of
we lived them so the culture of
we lived them so the culture of excellence the culture of sportsmanship
excellence the culture of sportsmanship
excellence the culture of sportsmanship the culture of commitment the culture of
the culture of commitment the culture of
the culture of commitment the culture of finishing what you started these are
finishing what you started these are
finishing what you started these are things we understood very well as the
things we understood very well as the
things we understood very well as the girls in the school at the end of grade
girls in the school at the end of grade
girls in the school at the end of grade 10 going to grade 11 we used to visit my
10 going to grade 11 we used to visit my
10 going to grade 11 we used to visit my grandmother in my mother in the Eastern
grandmother in my mother in the Eastern
grandmother in my mother in the Eastern Cape every December and upon our return
Cape every December and upon our return
Cape every December and upon our return this is the day before we open school
this is the day before we open school
this is the day before we open school and this is the year I was going to be
and this is the year I was going to be
and this is the year I was going to be going to grade 11
going to grade 11
going to grade 11 my father and I have a massive
my father and I have a massive
my father and I have a massive altercation so massive that I’m sent
altercation so massive that I’m sent
altercation so massive that I’m sent back to it the what to my grandmother
back to it the what to my grandmother
back to it the what to my grandmother and they’ll be full schools open for
and they’ll be full schools open for
and they’ll be full schools open for grade 11 and so I go back to battle it
grade 11 and so I go back to battle it
grade 11 and so I go back to battle it and I am hysterical so I’m looking for a
and I am hysterical so I’m looking for a
and I am hysterical so I’m looking for a school in battle it but my my standards
school in battle it but my my standards
school in battle it but my my standards are high I’m looking for a park called
are high I’m looking for a park called
are high I’m looking for a park called high equivalence and I searched January
high equivalence and I searched January
high equivalence and I searched January comes to it and I can’t find anything I
comes to it and I can’t find anything I
comes to it and I can’t find anything I panic and I search for the school
panic and I search for the school
panic and I search for the school February now anything close to a pal
February now anything close to a pal
February now anything close to a pal goes high is an odd 130 kilometers out
goes high is an odd 130 kilometers out
goes high is an odd 130 kilometers out of town eventually it sinks in that
of town eventually it sinks in that
of town eventually it sinks in that maybe you’re not going to find something
maybe you’re not going to find something
maybe you’re not going to find something like a pal called high a childhood
like a pal called high a childhood
like a pal called high a childhood friend as mother comes to my rescue
friend as mother comes to my rescue
friend as mother comes to my rescue so mama got handle cos it takes it upon
so mama got handle cos it takes it upon
so mama got handle cos it takes it upon herself to find me a school and she
herself to find me a school and she
herself to find me a school and she eventually says no I’ll have a word with
eventually says no I’ll have a word with
eventually says no I’ll have a word with the principal of one of the best schools
the principal of one of the best schools
the principal of one of the best schools in town and so I start asking people
in town and so I start asking people
in town and so I start asking people around so this school is the school of
around so this school is the school of
around so this school is the school of grade school
grade school
grade school people say oh no it’s the most expensive
people say oh no it’s the most expensive
people say oh no it’s the most expensive in town it’s absolutely the greatest
in town it’s absolutely the greatest
in town it’s absolutely the greatest well okay I don’t know I I know my
well okay I don’t know I I know my
well okay I don’t know I I know my school’s pretty well so I didn’t know
school’s pretty well so I didn’t know
school’s pretty well so I didn’t know about this one and I get into school end
about this one and I get into school end
about this one and I get into school end of April that here so the whole time
of April that here so the whole time
of April that here so the whole time finished whilst I was busy looking for
finished whilst I was busy looking for
finished whilst I was busy looking for power girls I in battle with and I
power girls I in battle with and I
power girls I in battle with and I eventually get to the school and the
eventually get to the school and the
eventually get to the school and the buildings and debilitated there is a
buildings and debilitated there is a
buildings and debilitated there is a handful of passionate teachers and
handful of passionate teachers and
handful of passionate teachers and passionate and worried about the future
passionate and worried about the future
passionate and worried about the future of the children not passionate in
of the children not passionate in
of the children not passionate in subject matter expertise really or
subject matter expertise really or
subject matter expertise really or having a rapport 12 teaching
having a rapport 12 teaching
having a rapport 12 teaching methodologies that they can use not that
methodologies that they can use not that
methodologies that they can use not that passionate but passion that we worry
passionate but passion that we worry
passionate but passion that we worry about you patience there is no visible
about you patience there is no visible
about you patience there is no visible culture of anything of anything
culture of anything of anything
culture of anything of anything there is no sports absolutely nothing to
there is no sports absolutely nothing to
there is no sports absolutely nothing to do so this breaks my heart breaks my
do so this breaks my heart breaks my
do so this breaks my heart breaks my heart because this is the best school in
heart because this is the best school in
heart because this is the best school in town now if this is the best school in
town now if this is the best school in
town now if this is the best school in town show me or mediocre sport
town show me or mediocre sport
town show me or mediocre sport show me your bad school because of this
show me your bad school because of this
show me your bad school because of this the best that this town has to offer we
the best that this town has to offer we
the best that this town has to offer we have a problem this experience shaped
have a problem this experience shaped
have a problem this experience shaped the trajectory of my life and the work
the trajectory of my life and the work
the trajectory of my life and the work that I do today having lived in both
that I do today having lived in both
that I do today having lived in both worlds having experienced these two
worlds having experienced these two
worlds having experienced these two education systems that are so glaringly
education systems that are so glaringly
education systems that are so glaringly different worries me today worries me
different worries me today worries me
different worries me today worries me because clearly we have become so
because clearly we have become so
because clearly we have become so comfortable in our bubbles of
comfortable in our bubbles of
comfortable in our bubbles of middle-class South Africans we can take
middle-class South Africans we can take
middle-class South Africans we can take our kids to particular schools while
our kids to particular schools while
our kids to particular schools while millions of others are subjected to
millions of others are subjected to
millions of others are subjected to substandard education it became clear to
substandard education it became clear to
substandard education it became clear to me during that experience that firstly
me during that experience that firstly
me during that experience that firstly by virtue of being born poor you are
by virtue of being born poor you are
by virtue of being born poor you are going to be relegated to a substandard
going to be relegated to a substandard
going to be relegated to a substandard education but also secondly that by
education but also secondly that by
education but also secondly that by virtue of where geographically you are
virtue of where geographically you are
virtue of where geographically you are born you are going to suffer and go to
born you are going to suffer and go to
born you are going to suffer and go to substandard schools there’s millions of
substandard schools there’s millions of
substandard schools there’s millions of our children in this country and these
our children in this country and these
our children in this country and these stark polarities should not be a norm
stark polarities should not be a norm
stark polarities should not be a norm because it is not uncommon in South
because it is not uncommon in South
because it is not uncommon in South Africa to find a school that looks like
Africa to find a school that looks like
Africa to find a school that looks like that and one that is within a five
that and one that is within a five
that and one that is within a five kilometer radius with another one so
kilometer radius with another one so
kilometer radius with another one so it’s it’s actually I don’t know how we
it’s it’s actually I don’t know how we
it’s it’s actually I don’t know how we continue to live like this and we make
continue to live like this and we make
continue to live like this and we make this okay so this is not okay and to
this okay so this is not okay and to
this okay so this is not okay and to give you a basic example so if we take a
give you a basic example so if we take a
give you a basic example so if we take a group of children who started school in
group of children who started school in
group of children who started school in 2004 of that 51% don’t even make it they
2004 of that 51% don’t even make it they
2004 of that 51% don’t even make it they don’t even make it to create 12th they
don’t even make it to create 12th they
don’t even make it to create 12th they don’t even finish high school and the
don’t even finish high school and the
don’t even finish high school and the question we should be asking is what
question we should be asking is what
question we should be asking is what happens to them where do they go that is
happens to them where do they go that is
happens to them where do they go that is that is a lot of children who just don’t
that is a lot of children who just don’t
that is a lot of children who just don’t get to great off and even in the 49% of
get to great off and even in the 49% of
get to great off and even in the 49% of those that actually get to grade 12 12
those that actually get to grade 12 12
those that actually get to grade 12 12 percent fail they don’t pass right 23
percent fail they don’t pass right 23
percent fail they don’t pass right 23 percent they pass but not well enough to
percent they pass but not well enough to
percent they pass but not well enough to get into University
get into University
get into University only 40% 14 so what is wrong with our
only 40% 14 so what is wrong with our
only 40% 14 so what is wrong with our basic education system what happens to
basic education system what happens to
basic education system what happens to those 51 percent where are they what are
those 51 percent where are they what are
those 51 percent where are they what are they doing where do they leave what do
they doing where do they leave what do
they doing where do they leave what do they eat how do they make a living those
they eat how do they make a living those
they eat how do they make a living those are the questions we need to begin to
are the questions we need to begin to
are the questions we need to begin to ask ourselves but also it’s clear that
ask ourselves but also it’s clear that
ask ourselves but also it’s clear that if we have such a massive and a chunk of
if we have such a massive and a chunk of
if we have such a massive and a chunk of young people who don’t actually get
young people who don’t actually get
young people who don’t actually get through education
through education
through education they must be unemployed they must be
they must be unemployed they must be
they must be unemployed they must be sitting somewhere and they are
sitting somewhere and they are
sitting somewhere and they are unemployed the unemployment rate and
unemployed the unemployment rate and
unemployed the unemployment rate and these are the recent statistics is quite
these are the recent statistics is quite
these are the recent statistics is quite high in our country but I’m going to
high in our country but I’m going to
high in our country but I’m going to just look at the age group that is
just look at the age group that is
just look at the age group that is between 15 and 34 that’s the young
between 15 and 34 that’s the young
between 15 and 34 that’s the young people in South Africa we have 20
people in South Africa we have 20
people in South Africa we have 20 million of those people right and then
million of those people right and then
million of those people right and then almost 60% of that is either employed or
almost 60% of that is either employed or
almost 60% of that is either employed or still in school still in basic education
still in school still in basic education
still in school still in basic education or some higher education training but
or some higher education training but
or some higher education training but almost 40% is idling
almost 40% is idling
almost 40% is idling somewhere it’s it’s unaccounted for it’s
somewhere it’s it’s unaccounted for it’s
somewhere it’s it’s unaccounted for it’s not in school it’s not an employment
not in school it’s not an employment
not in school it’s not an employment it’s not in training that is a high
it’s not in training that is a high
it’s not in training that is a high percentage and then we wonder why we
percentage and then we wonder why we
percentage and then we wonder why we have such high crime rates and we wonder
have such high crime rates and we wonder
have such high crime rates and we wonder why we have such social ills because
why we have such social ills because
why we have such social ills because there is a group of people in millions
there is a group of people in millions
there is a group of people in millions that is idling and we’re going to cause
that is idling and we’re going to cause
that is idling and we’re going to cause a problem for ourselves and it is in our
a problem for ourselves and it is in our
a problem for ourselves and it is in our interest to care and to do something
interest to care and to do something
interest to care and to do something about it and yes education may not be
about it and yes education may not be
about it and yes education may not be the only way to solve the problem but we
the only way to solve the problem but we
the only way to solve the problem but we know many of us know I know that it is
know many of us know I know that it is
know many of us know I know that it is the single most important weapon that we
the single most important weapon that we
the single most important weapon that we can move people from poverty to end off
can move people from poverty to end off
can move people from poverty to end off I just want to urge everybody I mean who
I just want to urge everybody I mean who
I just want to urge everybody I mean who we are all involved in different sectors
we are all involved in different sectors
we are all involved in different sectors and different activities but I think it
and different activities but I think it
and different activities but I think it is important that we begin to care and
is important that we begin to care and
is important that we begin to care and we begin to do things intentionally and
we begin to do things intentionally and
we begin to do things intentionally and to think at scale about the solutions
to think at scale about the solutions
to think at scale about the solutions that we can bring forward to make
that we can bring forward to make
that we can bring forward to make sure that education is not just
sure that education is not just
sure that education is not just accessible to the elite to the wealthy
accessible to the elite to the wealthy
accessible to the elite to the wealthy and to the middle class but that the
and to the middle class but that the
and to the middle class but that the millions of South African but really
millions of South African but really
millions of South African but really really deserve it and need it also
really deserve it and need it also
really deserve it and need it also access it so that we have an educated
access it so that we have an educated
access it so that we have an educated population of people an educated country
population of people an educated country
population of people an educated country maybe then we will lead better maybe
maybe then we will lead better maybe
maybe then we will lead better maybe then we will govern better maybe then we
then we will govern better maybe then we
then we will govern better maybe then we will vote better thank you
will vote better thank you
will vote better thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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