Written by Alessia Bruni
The right to quality education is a fundamental right. However, in South Africa, numerous children encounter substantial obstacles in obtaining adequate education due to impoverished circumstances. Education plays a pivotal role in shaping individuals, affording them access to further opportunities. Regrettably, for many learners in South Africa, this aspiration remains elusive. Despite the efforts made by the South African government to improve the educational system, the economic divide continues to leave a large portion of the people of South Africa with limited educational opportunities and insufficient resources.
The Interrelation between Education and Poverty
The influence of poverty on a child’s education is profound, impacting their ability to access and remain in school and pursue higher education in the future. Approximately 55% of South Africa’s population resides in poverty. (World Bank Group 2023) This statistic highlights the nation’s educational framework, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions where essential elements such as infrastructure, teaching personnel, and educational materials are deficient. This results in significant disparities between wealthier schools and those in rural and township communities. (Mohamed 2020)
The influence of poverty on education can be found both directly and indirectly. Families facing financial hardship often encounter challenges in providing necessities such as uniforms, transportation, and school supplies, which can result in students discontinuing their education or frequently missing school. Moreover, students raised in impoverished environments may lack stable housing and an environment conducive to learning, thus adversely affecting their academic performance. The current challenges make it difficult to secure employment due to the absence of a strong educational foundation leaving the students without essential educational skills such as writing, reading, and social skills. (Hogan 2020)
Deficient Infrastructure and Resources
The need for adequate infrastructure in the education sector is paramount, as its absence can significantly affect the delivery of quality education. In South Africa, the adverse effects of poverty on education show in numerous schools that lack essential amenities such as running water, sanitation, and electricity. This insufficiency has led to students being educated in makeshift classrooms and outdoor settings due to the absence of proper facilities. Furthermore, overcrowded classrooms have hampered teachers’ ability to provide individual attention to students, impacting the overall education quality. (Veriava 2012)
Schools in rural and township areas of South Africa are not only confronted with inadequate infrastructure, but also face a dearth of fundamental educational resources such as books, textbooks, seating, desks, and technological amenities including internet connectivity and computers, which are occasionally non-existent in these rural educational institutions. These deficiencies underscore the profound impact of poverty on the educational landscape, thereby exacerbating the disparity between underprivileged and affluent schools, placing students in rural areas at a distinct disadvantage with limited prospects. (Global 2023)
Financial Barriers Leading to Dropout Rates
Public education in South Africa is offered at no cost. However, a significant number of students attending these schools are required to contribute to their family’s income, often resulting in high dropout rates. Additionally, these public schools that offer education free of charge lack the quality that is given in contrast to private schools, leading to many children lacking adequate and quality reading, writing, and many other skills offered at private schools. (Expatica 2016)
According to Statistics South Africa, approximately 20% of children aged 7-18 not in attendance at school attribute their absence to financial constraints. (Statistics South Africa 2022) Furthermore, individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds exhibit a higher likelihood of remaining at home with their families. Additional research indicates that poverty significantly contributes, elucidating variations in dropout rates between genders. The research reveals that male students are more prone to leaving school due to academic underperformance or interpersonal conflicts with peers and educators. Many also depart in pursuit of vocational training with the aspiration of securing employment. Conversely, female students are more inclined to discontinue their education due to caregiving responsibilities and financial adversity. (Desai et al. 2024)
The Significance of Early Childhood Development
Early childhood development plays a critical role in laying the foundation for future learning or studies, with barriers such as poverty in South Africa early childhood development (ECD) is affected. In South Africa access to ECD programs is difficult amongst families living in impoverished circumstances. The sectors most impacted in South Africa include early childhood education, social protection, and healthcare. These gaps negatively affect the youngest children from impoverished backgrounds creating barriers that leave them disadvantaged. An alarming rate of “ 7 in every 10 young children now live below the poverty line” (Biersteker, Lake, and Wiedaad Slemming 2024)
Insufficient financial support, coupled with minimal welfare grants, compounds the challenges and restricts access to vital services necessary for children’s development. ECD centres in impoverished areas where often financial constraints, inadequate staffing, and lack of resources, result in a deficiency of early stimulation and support for children. Consequently, many children commence formal schooling already disadvantaged, grappling to keep pace with the curriculum, thus contributing to elevated dropout rates in later years. (DGMT 2024)
Resolutions and Forward Thinking
It is paramount that the education gap be addressed in South Africa specifically relating to the disparities caused by poverty. Investment strategies should be implemented to contribute to adequate school infrastructure specifically in the rural and township areas. It is essential to provide a safe and conducive learning environment in South Africa to provide a more than adequate educational system to children in impoverished areas in South Africa. (uMkhonto weSizwe Party 2024)
The prioritization of teacher training and development is paramount, and the implementation of incentives is recommended to attract qualified educators to underserved schools. Moreover, it is advisable for the government to explore avenues for expanding early childhood education accessibility during the formative years of schooling. (Maimane 2022) Additionally, addressing financial barriers, such as transportation and undisclosed educational fees, is imperative to ensure equitable access to quality education for all students, irrespective of their socioeconomic background. (uMkhonto weSizwe Party 2024)
Conclusion
The quality of education in South Africa resulting from poverty remains a critical impediment to the nation’s advancement. The limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and financial constraints continue to contribute to a system that marginalizes children from low-income and impoverished communities. Effective remedies need to be placed to address these challenges and necessitate the need for an adequate system to contribute financially to educational institutions with enhanced support for educators and families. Through a concentrated effort to remove these barriers in educational disparity, we can disrupt the cycle of poverty and secure a more promising future for all children in South Africa.
References
Biersteker, Linda, Lori Lake, and Wiedaad Slemming. 2024. “South Africa Is Failing Its Youngest Children – Report Flags Critical Gaps in Early Learning, Social Protection and Health Care.” The Conversation. September 11, 2024. https://theconversation.com/south-africa-is-failing-its-youngest-children-report-flags-critical-gaps-in-early-learning-social-protection-and-health-care-238607.
Desai, Rachana, Ansuyah Magan, Robert A.C. Ruiter, Priscilla S Reddy, and Liesbeth A.G. Mercken. 2024. “Understanding Why Youth Drop out of School in South Africa.” SAGE Open 14 (1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231219080.
DGMT. 2024. “South African Early Childhood Review 2024 – DGMT.” DGMT – the DG Murray Trust. July 18, 2024. https://dgmt.co.za/south-african-early-childhood-review-2024/
Expatica. 2016. “Education in South Africa – Expat Guide to South Africa | Expatica.” Expat Guide to South Africa | Expatica. Expat Guide to South Africa | Expatica. 2016. https://www.expatica.com/za/education/children-education/education-in-south-africa-803205/.
Global, 4 Earth. 2023. “State of Education Facilities in Africa.” 4 Earth Global. November 7, 2023. https://4earth.global/state-of-education-facilities-in-africa/.
Hogan, Alyssa. 2020. “Links between South African Poverty and Education.” The Borgen Project. December 17, 2020. https://borgenproject.org/south-african-poverty-and-education/.
Maimane, Mmusi. 2022. “Mmusi Maimane | Ten Steps to Fix SA’s Education System for Future Generations.” News24. January 26, 2022. https://www.news24.com/news24/opinions/columnists/guestcolumn/mmusi-maimane-ten-steps-to-fix-sas-education-system-for-future-generations-20220126.
Mohamed, Shenilla. 2020. “South Africa: Broken and Unequal Education Perpetuating Poverty and Inequality.” Amnesty International. February 11, 2020. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/02/south-africa-broken-and-unequal-education-perpetuating-poverty-and-inequality/.
Statistics South Africa. 2022. “Increase in Number of Out-of-School Children and Youth in SA in 2020 | Statistics South Africa.” Stats SA. June 29, 2022. https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=15520.
uMkhonto weSizwe Party. 2024. “The State of Education in South Africa: Challenges and Prospects – MK Party.” MK Party. July 9, 2024. https://mkparty.org.za/the-state-of-education-in-south-africa/.
Veriava, Faranaaz . 2012. “Rich School, Poor School – the Great Divide Persists.” The Mail & Guardian. September 28, 2012. https://mg.co.za/article/2012-09-28-00-rich-school-poor-school-the-great-divide-persists/.
World Bank Group. 2023. “Poverty & Equity Brief Africa Eastern & Southern South Africa.” World Bank. April 2023. https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext_download/poverty/987B9C90-CB9F-4D93-AE8C-750588BF00QA/current/Global_POVEQ_ZAF.pdf.
Cover Image by Pixabay on 29/07/2020, Kone Kassoum. https://pixabay.com/photos/children-students-school-books-5445625