If you send your child to a posh private school, you could be perpetuating an unequal education system.
This is the conclusion of a latest report released in Marrakech, Morocco by several international civil society organisations, which included the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The report focused on the progress made with regards to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa
In a joint statement the organisations commented: “Privatisation policies increase inequality in access, do not guarantee quality and undermine the notion of education as a public good. Increased private sector participation in education is a strong driver of segregation and inequalities of opportunities.”
Locally, legal advocacy group Section 27, Education Coalition of South Africa (ECSA), Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) and Equal Education, have endorsed the report.
They said: “The report is significant as it will shape the debate for the next international development framework after the MDGs end in 2015.”
Africa now has 144 000 dollar millionaires, and Credit Suisse predicts rapid growth over the next five years. By 2019, Africa will have about 279 000 dollar millionaires.
South Africans’ wealth is almost $23 000 (R255 000) on average, per person, up from $20 000 in 2013.
South Africa’s average household wealth grew rapidly before the global financial crisis, from $8 400 in 2000 to $25 800 in 2007.