ANC IN PARLIAMENT SUPPORT PLANS TO MAKE HISTORY A COMPULSORY SCHOOL SUBJECT
06 MAY 2015
The ANC in Parliament supports plans by the minister of basic education, Angie Motshekga, to introduce the subject of history as one of the compulsory modules for all school learners between the grades of 10 and 12.
The plans were announced by the Minister when she presented the budget vote of the basic education department in the national assembly today.
We strongly welcome this move because we are of the firm view that this is a ground breaking initiative that will go a long way towards assisting our youth, the majority of whom were born post 1994, understand and appreciate the history that was endured by South Africa and the African continent at large prior to the attainment of democracy.
The introduction of history as a compulsory subject, as the minister correctly pointed out, is also one of the mechanisms to be used by government going forward to foster social cohesion, national building and reconciliation in our society. Indeed a nation that does not know where it comes from cannot appreciate or make the best out of its present for the creation of a better tomorrow. No nation can build a successful future on the ignorance of its past.
Historical dates, which the nation has been observing, alone are not sufficient to inculcate awareness particularly amongst young people regarding the great sacrifices and struggles made by those who came before us to enjoy the freedom we have today. Through these compulsory history lessons, our youth would also learn about the role played by many beyond our borders in our glorious struggle against apartheid and colonialism. Ignorance of our past should never be an option. By making this subject compulsory, SA would join many other countries, including those in the European Union, who have made history compulsory for pupils beyond the age of 14.
In the same vein, we also welcome another new policy programme by the education minister, which is the introduction of a new school exit level certificate. This will be a level 1 certificate in terms of the National Qualifications Framework and it will in the main benefit leaners who struggle to obtain academic marks required to obtain the National Senior Certificate. This initiative, which is also a standard practice in many other developing economies across the world, will focus mainly on vocational subjects and will therefore equip them with skills required in the vocational employment sector.
We are also pleased the department of basic education is also intending to raise the number of learners who pass their matric exams with university endorsements from 172 000 in 2013 to 250 000 by 2019.
Statement issued by the Chairperson of the ANC Study Group on Basic Education, Nomalungelo Gina, ANC in Parliament, May 6 2015
