Why are our schools so poor?

What has influenced education in South Africa as it is today and why are there still so much socio-economic challenges in so many schools? Here's a little history lesson:  

Before 1953, many black people attended schools set up by religions organisations. These schools provided schooling of the same quality that white children received in state schools. Following the Bantu Education Act (No. 47) of 1953 the Apartheid government tightened its control over religious high schools by eliminating almost all financial aid, forcing many churches to sell their schools to the government or close them entirely.

The South African government implemented an education system called Christian National Education (CNE). The basis of this system is that a person's social responsibilities and political opportunities are defined by that person's ethnic identity.

Although CNE advanced principles of racial inferiority, it promoted teaching of cultural diversity and enforced mother-tongue instruction in the first years of primary school. The government gave strong management control to the school boards, who were elected by the parents in each district.

In 1959, the Extension of University Education Act prohibited established universities from accepting most black students, although the government did create universities for black, coloured, and Indian students.

The number of schools for blacks increased during the 1960s, but their curriculum was designed to prepare children for menial jobs. Per capita government spending on black education slipped to one-tenth of spending on whites in the 1970s. Black schools had inferior facilities, teachers, and textbooks. And sadly, the aftermath of that legacy is still the reality of today. Follow SA Promise @Sapromise on Twitter

Are you tired of Statistics?

Let me tell you something.
I am sick and tired of statistics.
I am so sick and tired of organizations, nations, politicians and so many others reading out statistics about the South African Youth and not statistics about how much of these winers really do something about it. We all like to say something, don't we? Dont we all like to discuss how much Young people in South Africa are living with HIV/AIDS? Or how much teen pregnancies we have in our communities? Or how much Young people are drug abusers and excessive alcohol users? What do we gain out of those discussions? Do we gain solutions? Do we reach conclusions? Do we find answers?
No we don't. How many of us get despondent when we read about our Youth in the newspapers? When I ask you what you think about the Youth of today, what is your response?
Well, maybe you did not read between the lines, maybe you did not read deep enough to see that behind those "statistics" lies the beauty of a life filled with potential. Behind those statistics is an asset that South Africa so desperately need in this time. Behind those statistics lies the very pillars that South Africa one day will stand upon. Behind those statistics are the cries of gold within the hearts and souls of our Youth, waiting to be mined for South Africa to gain from it's riches and wealth. Behind those statistics are a powerful, technologically advance force waiting for opportunities and urging to grow into their maximum potential. Behind those statistics are energetic, active and superfit sports and academic geniusses, waiting to be unleashed and sometimes swallowed into the global society. Behind those statistics are a generation with their ears open and their hearts receptive for caring adults to belief in them, love them, guide them, trust them. Let us all pick up our spades, if you don't have one, get one, and start looking for opportunities to dig for that gold that statistics have overshadowed in the dark corners of their potential 'mines'. A mine is a place of opportunities, of new hope, new ideas, new creations and new inventions.A place where the undiscovered is discovered and the unreached is reached.
Like I said, I'm tired of statistics, it makes me sick! If I need to know about statistics, tell me how much people in South Africa care enough to ensure a bright future for themselves and for the next generation. Tell me if we do enough to develop the more than 50% of our population that is under the age of 30 years old.
Youth development is Future development.It is investing in your very own future and in that of your children.