Cape Town schoolchildren have warned that if the provincial department of education closes 27 schools in Western Cape, many pupils will join gangs and illiteracy and the crime rate will increase.
They were speaking during a march to hand over a memorandum to the provincial parliament and legislature on Saturday.
More than 500 people, mostly children, toyi-toyied and sang freedom songs. They converged on Keizersgracht and then marched to the legislature in Wale Street.
The march was led by Cosatu, non-governmental organisation Equal Education and the Congress of South African Students (Cosas).
They demanded equal education for all and called on the department not to close the 27 schools in the province.
Earlier this year Western Cape education MEC Donald Grant had cited dwindling pupil numbers, poor performance and old school buildings as reasons for planned closures.
The marchers, wearing school uniforms and union T-shirts, held banners and placards with slogans like "Close Our Schools You Will Lose Our Votes", "Closure of More Schools Equals More Crime" and "Hands off our Schools".
Michael Wilter, head of the office of the province's education department received the memorandum.
Titian Hess, a Grade 9 pupil at Healthfield High School in Diep River, said: "The closure of schools will increase the high rate of illiteracy in society.
"The department says education is the key but it is closing schools. It does not make sense."
Hess called on the department to provide equal education for all.
"We don't have computers, laboratories and other resources, including sportsfields, at our schools," he said.
"Schools in more affluent areas such Constantia and Rondebosch have everything. The government must level the playing fields." he said.
Odwa Nqakayi, a Grade 11 pupil at Harry Gwala High School in Khayelitsha asked: "Where will pupils learn when the department is closing the schools?''
Equal Education youth organiser Ntshadi Mofokeng added that there had been no consultation with communities about the closure of the schools.
Kids oppose school shutdowns
Cape Town schoolchildren have warned that if the provincial department of education closes 27 schools in Western Cape, many pupils will join gangs and illiteracy and the crime rate will increase.
They were speaking during a march to hand over a memorandum to the provincial parliament and legislature on Saturday.
More than 500 people, mostly children, toyi-toyied and sang freedom songs. They converged on Keizersgracht and then marched to the legislature in Wale Street.
The march was led by Cosatu, non-governmental organisation Equal Education and the Congress of South African Students (Cosas).
They demanded equal education for all and called on the department not to close the 27 schools in the province.
Earlier this year Western Cape education MEC Donald Grant had cited dwindling pupil numbers, poor performance and old school buildings as reasons for planned closures.
The marchers, wearing school uniforms and union T-shirts, held banners and placards with slogans like "Close Our Schools You Will Lose Our Votes", "Closure of More Schools Equals More Crime" and "Hands off our Schools".
Michael Wilter, head of the office of the province's education department received the memorandum.
Titian Hess, a Grade 9 pupil at Healthfield High School in Diep River, said: "The closure of schools will increase the high rate of illiteracy in society.
"The department says education is the key but it is closing schools. It does not make sense."
Hess called on the department to provide equal education for all.
"We don't have computers, laboratories and other resources, including sportsfields, at our schools," he said.
"Schools in more affluent areas such Constantia and Rondebosch have everything. The government must level the playing fields." he said.
Odwa Nqakayi, a Grade 11 pupil at Harry Gwala High School in Khayelitsha asked: "Where will pupils learn when the department is closing the schools?''
Equal Education youth organiser Ntshadi Mofokeng added that there had been no consultation with communities about the closure of the schools.
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