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Equal Education
Equal Education (EE) is a democratic movement of learners, post-school youth, parents and community members striving for quality and equality in the South African education system through activism and research. Equal Education aims to build understanding of the education system, while drawing attention to problems faced by schools and their communities.
In 2008, activists and education experts met to discuss issues of inequality in South Africa’s education system. They recognized the need to mobilise communities and organise around key issues centering young people. This vision led to the formation of the democratic, membership-based organisation called Equal Education (EE).
In March 2008, the first youth meeting was held in Khayelitsha with seven students in attendance. Since this initial youth group meeting, the number of members has risen to 6000, who gather every week in five provinces, engaged in political education, and leading the struggle to bring equal and quality education to South Africa.[when?]
EE first campaigned for repairing Luhlaza Secondary School's 500 damaged windows. Through its grassroots approach and collaboration with experienced activists like Zackie Achmat, EE successfully petitioned the government to fix the windows. Beginning in 2009, EE campaigned for a national policy on school libraries with the aim of one library and librarian for every South African school. By 2011, it sought to have schools' infrastructure fixed, including bathrooms and electricity. According to a case consortium study published by Columbia University, EE transformed into "a nationally recognized activist organization" by 2012, and reached 5,000 members by 2014. EE's strength came from its young participants, primarily secondary school students, as well as people 25 years old or younger.
In 2018, Equal Education celebrated its 10th year of organizing. Over these 10 years, EE has managed to put education on the national agenda, mobilize young people who are directly affected by education challenges, and become one of the leading grassroots voices on education related matters in the country. EE members have marched, written letters, held night vigils, met with government officials and public representatives, advocated in the media, made submissions to Parliament and, where necessary, taken legal action with the assistance of the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC), to deliver major victories for learners across South Africa.[undue weight? – discuss]
Equal Education has been involved in education activism for fourteen years, leading successful campaigns for school infrastructure, scholar transportation, access to sanitation and libraries.[relevant?]
EE has won tangible victories in schools, securing school infrastructure regulations, billions in government funding for infrastructure, a scholar transport policy and scholar transport to over 3000 learners. EE has defended the rights of students who faced exclusionary policies, and been instrumental to the reform of feeder zone policies which entrench segregation. They have also prevented schools being unlawfully closed, and worked towards schools remaining democratic and inclusive spaces when new school policies are introduced. Additionally, Equal Education has campaigned and secured improvements to countless specific schools across South Africa.[citation needed]
Equal Education recognizes the intersectionality of socio-economic rights; thus, the social movement has joined and contributed to social justice struggles beyond education, defending hard-won democratic and constitutional gains across South Africa.[tone]
Equal Education
Equal Education (EE) is a democratic movement of learners, post-school youth, parents and community members striving for quality and equality in the South African education system through activism and research. Equal Education aims to build understanding of the education system, while drawing attention to problems faced by schools and their communities.
In 2008, activists and education experts met to discuss issues of inequality in South Africa’s education system. They recognized the need to mobilise communities and organise around key issues centering young people. This vision led to the formation of the democratic, membership-based organisation called Equal Education (EE).
In March 2008, the first youth meeting was held in Khayelitsha with seven students in attendance. Since this initial youth group meeting, the number of members has risen to 6000, who gather every week in five provinces, engaged in political education, and leading the struggle to bring equal and quality education to South Africa.[when?]
EE first campaigned for repairing Luhlaza Secondary School's 500 damaged windows. Through its grassroots approach and collaboration with experienced activists like Zackie Achmat, EE successfully petitioned the government to fix the windows. Beginning in 2009, EE campaigned for a national policy on school libraries with the aim of one library and librarian for every South African school. By 2011, it sought to have schools' infrastructure fixed, including bathrooms and electricity. According to a case consortium study published by Columbia University, EE transformed into "a nationally recognized activist organization" by 2012, and reached 5,000 members by 2014. EE's strength came from its young participants, primarily secondary school students, as well as people 25 years old or younger.
In 2018, Equal Education celebrated its 10th year of organizing. Over these 10 years, EE has managed to put education on the national agenda, mobilize young people who are directly affected by education challenges, and become one of the leading grassroots voices on education related matters in the country. EE members have marched, written letters, held night vigils, met with government officials and public representatives, advocated in the media, made submissions to Parliament and, where necessary, taken legal action with the assistance of the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC), to deliver major victories for learners across South Africa.[undue weight? – discuss]
Equal Education has been involved in education activism for fourteen years, leading successful campaigns for school infrastructure, scholar transportation, access to sanitation and libraries.[relevant?]
EE has won tangible victories in schools, securing school infrastructure regulations, billions in government funding for infrastructure, a scholar transport policy and scholar transport to over 3000 learners. EE has defended the rights of students who faced exclusionary policies, and been instrumental to the reform of feeder zone policies which entrench segregation. They have also prevented schools being unlawfully closed, and worked towards schools remaining democratic and inclusive spaces when new school policies are introduced. Additionally, Equal Education has campaigned and secured improvements to countless specific schools across South Africa.[citation needed]
Equal Education recognizes the intersectionality of socio-economic rights; thus, the social movement has joined and contributed to social justice struggles beyond education, defending hard-won democratic and constitutional gains across South Africa.[tone]
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