GPSA Weekly Views

Carrying on with my rage from last week, let me tell them those outside where we're at at this stage, touching on education and politics -

Education : ITWeb reported that South African students achieved the world's worst average maths and science scores, in a global study of Grade Eight children in 50 countries. But that's not all. A colleague told me that he requested extra lessons for one of his kids at a school. The response was that he would have to source this outside of the school as they "don't have time due to all the sport activities" to accommodate any extra lessons.

Even though government is earmarking some R600 million as a “scarce skills allowance” to increase the salaries of maths and science teachers in under-resourced schools. That's despite the fact that we have quite a couple of schools which consist of dilapidated buildings with no electricity, no ablution facilities or running water. In rural areas some schools consists of a big tree, and that's it.

An old issue which the ANC is still guilty of, demanding that Afrikaans medium schools tutor it's pupils in English. Is this not an act of showing the Afrikaans speaking Afrikaner that it's days are numbered? Isn't this a forceful attack on the integrity and independence of the Afrikaans people of this country?

Politics : The ANC Youth League reckons Jacob Zuma should replace Mbeki in 2007 as the country's' next president. This in spite of the fact that Zuma "owes" his good buddy Shabir Shaik some R2 million? In spite of the fact that Zuma himself acknowledged that he is living a lifestyle way beyond what he can afford? Makes you think of the kingdom of Swaziland where the king took yet another wife (his seventh?), drives a R4 million car while his people are suffering. The locals of course thinks he's the greatest because that is their custom. A king must show his riches and fertility in order to be a great king.

The MEC's involved in the "travelgate" scandal have not even appeared in court yet and already the ANC demanded the presence of the Scorpion units' big shot in parliament to explain himself and the units' intentions. This was a criminal investigation requested by the ruling party. I suppose they did not expect their member acknowledgement of being "stupid" (auw, I did not understand) as breaking the law. The new guy in charge of the Scorpions turned government down. Of course these guys won't be suspended unless found guilty in a court of law. Then again, look our arms-deal friend who was found guilty but is still an active ANC member.

Some government (ANC) officials are also starting to dictate to the national broadcaster what we can watch. Understand that at this stage the SABC is still a government "department" even though they advocate fair and balanced views on their news broadcasts. 30% of SABC 3 news in the past 6 months were dedicated to government compared to only 16% of "free to view" station e-tv. Ministers now refuse to open functions unless the SABC cameras are present.

Are we heading to the days where a black man once remarked that if you need comedy on tv you only need to watch the news? With poor English and bad reporting by illiterate (or semi-literate) black reporters one can only endure so much.

Weekly View
	10 February 2005
Carrying on with my rage from last week, let me tell them those outside where we're at at this stage, touching on education and politics - Education : ITWeb reported that South African students achieved the world's worst average maths and science scores, in a global study of Grade Eight children in 50 countries. But that's not all. A colleague told me that he requested extra lessons for one of his kids at a school. The response was that he would have to source this outside of the school as they "don't have time due to all the sport activities" to accommodate any extra lessons. Even though government is earmarking some R600 million as a “scarce skills allowance” to increase the salaries of maths and science teachers in under-resourced schools. That's despite the fact that we have quite a couple of schools which consist of dilapidated buildings with no electricity, no ablution facilities or running water. In rural areas some schools consists of a big tree, and that's it. An old issue which the ANC is still guilty of, demanding that Afrikaans medium schools tutor it's pupils in English. Is this not an act of showing the Afrikaans speaking Afrikaner that it's days are numbered? Isn't this a forceful attack on the integrity and independence of the Afrikaans people of this country? Politics : The ANC Youth League reckons Jacob Zuma should replace Mbeki in 2007 as the country's' next president. This in spite of the fact that Zuma "owes" his good buddy Shabir Shaik some R2 million? In spite of the fact that Zuma himself acknowledged that he is living a lifestyle way beyond what he can afford? Makes you think of the kingdom of Swaziland where the king took yet another wife (his seventh?), drives a R4 million car while his people are suffering. The locals of course thinks he's the greatest because that is their custom. A king must show his riches and fertility in order to be a great king. The MEC's involved in the "travelgate" scandal have not even appeared in court yet and already the ANC demanded the presence of the Scorpion units' big shot in parliament to explain himself and the units' intentions. This was a criminal investigation requested by the ruling party. I suppose they did not expect their member acknowledgement of being "stupid" (auw, I did not understand) as breaking the law. The new guy in charge of the Scorpions turned government down. Of course these guys won't be suspended unless found guilty in a court of law. Then again, look our arms-deal friend who was found guilty but is still an active ANC member. Some government (ANC) officials are also starting to dictate to the national broadcaster what we can watch. Understand that at this stage the SABC is still a government "department" even though they advocate fair and balanced views on their news broadcasts. 30% of SABC 3 news in the past 6 months were dedicated to government compared to only 16% of "free to view" station e-tv. Ministers now refuse to open functions unless the SABC cameras are present. Are we heading to the days where a black man once remarked that if you need comedy on tv you only need to watch the news? With poor English and bad reporting by illiterate (or semi-literate) black reporters one can only endure so much.	Past Views Current Joke Past jokes Gallery Links Current Exchange Rate Daily News Headlines
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