I agree completely with the Sowetan editorial of August 19 that we adults have failed the next generation in respect of the shoddy state of our education system.

I agree completely with the Sowetan editorial of August 19 that we adults have failed the next generation in respect of the shoddy state of our education system.

But your editorial seems to put all the hope for solving the problem on the Department of Education. The department, parents, pupils and all citizens, whether we have children or not, all have a role to play to achieve excellent results.

We can respect the profession, praise individual teachers and encourage our children to become teachers.

We can set high standards for teachers and make it clear that those who behave badly, who let our children down, will have no status in our communities.

Gillian Godsell, Craighall Park