On the latter front, comrade, here's the SA version below. More generally, the "decom prepcom" that the Municipal Services Project (http://www.queensu.ca/msp) is hosting in Jo'burg in mid-May will try to amplify the myriad local/international social and trade union fights for decommodification of water, electricity, etc, into a set of demands for the World Summit on Sustainable Development -- knowing full well that those demands are already off the agenda, leaving only ...?... for the WSSD meeting in late August in Jo'burg. (Stay tuned, and feed us advice!)
***
MEDIA RELEASE OF THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION [GCE]
WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2002 NO EMBARGO: 4 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EDUCATION FOR ALL
March to Parliament Thursday 25 April 2002
March to the Gauteng Legislature Friday 26 April 2002
Two marchers are planned to highlight the plight of adult learners. One in Cape Town to parliament on 25 April 2002, and another to the Gauteng provincial legislature on Friday 26 April 2002 at 1:30 pm. All GCE members will address these marchers where the National Report Card will be handed over to provincial education authorities and the premiers.
National Report Card Kader and Mdladlana gets F+
"Government has failed to honour its commitment to lifelong learning,
says Makonane from the Adult Learners Network. "Whilst adult
education is meant to provide a second chance to adult learners - it
appears that we are losing out for a second time" he said. "We seriously
question when the government is going to put its money where its mouth
is. The constitution of the country states clearly that adult education is a
right, and not a favour, yet government continues to under-resource this
sector. This is unconstitutional," Makonane added.
Both the Ministries of Education and Labour responsible for adult
education and skills development have done poorly when dealing with
adult education and literacy. Hence the F+. They have failed adult
learners. Here are the facts: One in six adults in South Africa cannot read
and write, and a further one in three have never attended high school,
equating a total of approximately 13 million adults lacking in basic adult
literacy and numeracy skills necessary to function effectively in any
society.
Despite these damning statistics less than 2% of the education budgets at
national and provincial level is spent on adult basic education and
training, said Adult Learners Network.
About the Global Campaign for
Education
The Global Campaign for Education aims to mobilise civil
society and lobby government to implement the Dakar
Framework of Action that commits over 180 governments
making Education for All a reality. Some of GCE objectives
include
Attaining: gender equality in primary and secondary education by
2005.
- Free and compulsory access to primary education by 2005, and
- A 50% improvement in adult literacy by 2015.
This year's campaign under the heading "Free to Learn"is aimed at :
Callingon government to provide free access to primary school
education and give adult learners a second chance in life. EvaluatingSouth Africa's progress towards implementing the Dakar
Framework of Action and achieving education for all Lobbyingthe government to honour the Dakar Framework Action
including its commitment to draw up a detailed national action plan
by 2002, in consultation with civil society, indication how and when
it aims to make the Education for all objectives a reality. We call for
this national education parliament to sit on 16 June 2002.
The GCE-SA comprises NGO's and trades unions.
We say "NO" to the poverty of illiteracy
Give adults a second chance in life!
Provincial Government Spending on ABET
A startling publication released by Russell
Wildeman of IDASA Budget Information Services in
March this year, indicates the stark contrast
between education policy and the actual funds
allocated for the implementation of ABET in the
provinces.
Education accounts for almost 40% of provincial
government spending. However, less than 2% of the
Provincial Education Budget is allocated for ABET
and in the Western Cape, actual spending on ABET
has even fallen by 2.5%.
When is government going to honour it's
commitment to lifelong learning and respond to the
needs of an estimated 3 million adults who cannot
read and write?
ABET as a percentage of total provincial education
budgets
1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04
ECape 0.6% 1.3% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2%
Free State 1.1% 1.5% 1.7% 1.7% 1.7%
Gauteng 1.6% 2.0% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5%
KZN 0.3% 0.4% 0.5% 0.6% 0.6%
Mpuma 0.9% 1.2% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9%
NCape 0.5% 0.6% 0.5% 0.8% 0.8%
NProv 0.4% 0.9% 0.4% 0.5% 0.5%
NWest 1.4% 1.4% 1.2% 1.3% 1.3%
WCape 0.6% 0.3% 0.4% 0.3% 0.3%
Total 0.8% 1.1% 0.9% 1.0% 1.0%
Issued by Hassen Lorgat for GCE Secretariat 082 45 0052
For more information on the march
CapeTown: · Lin Helme - Chairperson, Adult Learning Forum - 021 851
1427 · Don Pasquallie - Regional Secretary, SADTU - 021 930
8565
Or 083 627 8006
Gauteng:
Contact: archie Makonane 082 773 79818
Chairperson of CATE
Greg Clark
Deputy Chairperson of CATE