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More kids not going to school

Survey paints bleak picture of a country with insufficient skilled workers

EASTERN Cape has the highest number of children (at 2,4 percent) who should be at school but are loitering in the streets.

The children's ages range from 7 years to 17 years old.

These findings are contained in the Stats SA General Household Survey aimed at collecting data on educational activities, economic activities, health and safety issues and the household tasks of children of school-going age.

Second is Northern Cape at 1,7 percent, while Free State, North West and Limpopo all stand at 1,4 percent.

Of the 10,8 million children in South Africa at the time of the survey, approximately 10,7 million (98,7 percent) were attending school while 144,000 (1,3 percent) were not.

The survey was conducted in the third quarter of 2010, and was also used to supply information for the formulation of an informed policy to combat child labour.

Jonathan Snyman, researcher at the South African Institute of Race Relations, said the biggest concern about the findings were the future implications of not having children at schools.

"When you look at 5 to 10 years, when they will be supposed to be at tertiary level, it will become a problem. It means these children will not have the required qualifications to enter the job market," Snyman said.

He said poverty could be blamed for children not attending school.

"If you live in impoverished conditions you ask yourself what is its (school) value to my immediate needs," Snyman said.

He said the Eastern Cape had been reported as one of the provinces with maladministration.

"The National Planning Commission identified leadership as the big issue in teachers and headmasters. You cannot throw around money and expect results. It's something you have to work hard on over time," Snyman said.

The report also said the likelihood of not attending school was highest among orphans (2,8 percent). This was followed by those who reported one parent alive - father (1,7 percent) and only mother alive at 1,6 percent.

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