The Shadows of Apartheid: South Africa's Education Gap

The Shadows of Apartheid: South Africa's Education Gap

After the dystopian apartheid rule, South Africa is still experiencing and struggling with racism and segregation. The most striking examples of this is South Africa’s issues with education. South Africa spends an enormous amount of its GDP on education. Over 20% of the country’s spending is used in education, more than any other sector (South Africa.info). Ironically, South Africa’s education system still suffers a plethora flaws, including the prevalence of racial discrimination, unequal school funding, and racially skewed university entry rates.

Several years after the end of apartheid rule, racial discrimination is still very much alive in the education system of South Africa. In general, schools with higher percentages of white students have a higher quality of education that schools with black or coloured students (South Africa.info). A factor contributing to this gap of is the need to keep up old schools from Apartheid. White-only schools from Apartheid South Africa have kept all of their old privileges and technology, while the old black only schools have struggled to keep up to reach the same level as the old white only schools (BBC). Another factor contributing to the South African education gap is unequal wealth distribution in South Africa’s school districts. School districts with lower income are home to less white residents, so black residents receive a lower standard of education (Brookings). Another factor contributing to the gap of South African education is the need to keep up old schools from Apartheid. White-only schools from Apartheid South Africa have kept all of their old privileges and technology, while the old black only schools have struggled to keep up to reach the same level as the old white only schools (BBC). University enrollment is also skewed by race. Black residents from lower income areas are not able to afford university, and universities are less likely to accept people with an inferior education. (BBC). 55.8% of whites and 51% of Indians enter higher education, compared to the much smaller 14.3% of coloured people and 12% of blacks. (South Africa.info).

South Africa’s education system is in a poor state, due to the prevalence of racial discrimination, poor higher education acceptance, and the high illiteracy rate. It is imperative that South Africa solves the critical issue in order to finish the job that was started by the end of apartheid rule, and usher in a more equal nation.

Work Cited

"SouthAfrica.info." Education in South Africa. SouthAfrica.info, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.

Agbor, Julius. "Poverty, Inequality and Africa’s Education Crisis." Brookings. Brookings, 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.

Pearce, Justin. "SA Poor's Education Struggle." BBC News. BBC, 07 Apr. 2004. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.