1 Goal Education for All

On Thursday, 10 June 2010 Ditsela, along with a number of trade union representatives, labour organisations and civil society organisations took to the streets to demonstrate their deep concern for the current state of education in both South Africa and other parts of the world.

Supporters of the 1 GOAL Education for All campaign gathered in Pieter Roos Park and marched to Constitution Hill, where a memorandum was delivered to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga. 1GOAL is a campaign linked to the FIFA World Cup, which uses the platform of football to raise awareness and promote change in our current education systems. 72 million children around the world are denied the chance to go to school - nearly half of these children are in Africa.

South Africa has spent over R63 billion on the World Cup, yet over 90% of schools do not have libraries. Many South African children attend schools that are under-resourced and unsafe. Many South African children still do not have access to education in their mother tongue, and too many of these children are forced to learn on an empty stomach. Currently our scores in literacy, numeracy and our critical thinking skills show how much the education system continues to reproduce the characteristics of apartheid education.

Organisers of the 1 Goal march explained that this campaign highlights the fact that quality and equal public education should not be a commodity for a few, but the right of everyone; both here in South Africa and across the continent. Education belongs to the public, but quality education for all requires the support of parents, children, youth, teachers and
workers.

South African President Jacob Zuma and FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, President, recently announced the 1GOAL Education Summit will take place on 7 July; ensuring that 1GOAL Education for All would be the lasting legacy of the World Cup. At a press conference in Pretoria, President Zuma said, "For us education has to be the most important spin off.

As government, we plan to host a 1Goal Education campaign summit on 7 of July on the sidelines of the semi finals in Cape Town. If implemented successfully, this project will enable 72 million children who do not attend primary school currently to do so. It will be one of the most lasting legacies of the 2010 World Cup and we urge all nations of the world and the private sector internationally to support this campaign."

While the 1 GOAL Education for All campaign focus’ primarily on child education, the spirit and ethos of this campaign highlights the need for quality education for all. As an education institution for workers, Ditsela supports the need for systematic change within our education departments and the realisation of the importance of workers education. A quality public education should not be a commodity for a few, but the right of everyone. Until all South
Africans have access to a quality education, democracy will not be realised.