Afro-jazz musician Simphiwe Dana has a novel idea for drawing young professionals into fixing the ailing state school system -- a black education stokvel.
Launched in Johannesburg and Cape Town in the past week, the stokvel concept aims to mobilise private money to aid poor black schools. It is part of Dana's Black Culture Education Tour, during which she has visited 26 schools in five provinces on a fact-finding mission that began in March.
More than 30 potential members attended the stokvel's inaugural meeting in Johannesburg last Friday, including the national director of public prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, business leader Bobby Godsell, former higher education director general Mary Metcalfe, radio and TV personality Penny Lebyane, comedian and actor Eugene Khoza and IT entrepreneur Chief Ntshingila.
Dana identifies with the problems facing rural pupils because she faced similar issues growing up, she told the Friday meeting.
The songstress, who achieved fame after the release of her debut album Zandisile in 2007, described herself as a self-ordained education ambassador who has "endeavoured to garner support from society to patch things where government fails".
Dana spoke about the obstacles to improving education in rural areas and townships, with one of her criticisms being the general use of English as a medium of instruction, which was "producing horrifying results". "Our children believe they're dumb because they do not understand what they're being taught.
"Even the teachers are not well versed in the language," Dana said. She wants to "start small" by helping procure textbooks and fixing school infrastructure.
"As we grow bigger, we'll start building schools, building boarding schools in rural areas."
This article, written by Bongani Nkosi, continues on the Mail & Guardian site where it was sourced. You may read further on it here.
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