Giving parents more scope in getting the best education for their children would be an “important step in breaking the cycle of poverty and building dignity for future generations”.
So says IRR researcher Chris Patterson in a statement on the IRR’s latest #WhatSACanBe paper, Education: Empower Excellence, Beat Back Poverty.
The report proposes that the Government of National Unity introduce tax-funded school vouchers to help communities and parents play an active role in School Governing Bodies.
Citing Nelson Mandela’s description of education as “the most powerful weapon with which you change the world”, the IRR says the latest #WhatSACanBe paper “attempts to make this a reality by proposing tax-funded school vouchers for all children”.
The school voucher would be equivalent in value to what the State spends on a child’s education every year, which is roughly R21,500. Parents will be given the freedom to choose whether their child attends a public or private school.
Says Patterson: “Putting the power of school choice in the hands of parents is a way of ensuring that children get the best education possible. The Government of National Unity should trust parents to make decisions on their children’s education. School vouchers are a key part of the IRR’s alternative to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, that seeks instead to centralise power in the government’s hands.”
IRR polling shows broad support for school vouchers, with 84% of South Africans agreeing that school vouchers will help them improve their quality of life.
Patterson concludes: “Giving parents the opportunity and the freedom to ensure better education for their children is an important step in breaking the cycle of poverty and building dignity for future generations.”
You can read the full report here.