Public school education and the struggle for gender equality in South Africa

[Tutu Faleni]

The UNISA website carries these news ‘The Council of the University of South Africa (UNISA) is proud to announce that, in a move unprecedented since the establishment of the university 148 years ago, it will have its first female Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula with effect from 01 January 2021.’

Whilst many people were elated with this appointment many of us who have been engaged in the struggle for gender equality felt that the appointment has been long overdue.

The high-profile appointment of women at universities, corporations and government is most welcomed and it should have been happening many years ago. But these historically significant appointments should not make us loose sight of major challenges in gender equality within the public-school system. The high dropout rate of girl children at primary school level needs to be a permanent agenda on gender equality.

At the moment my intention is not to provide a panacea for what has been a major challenge in the South African school system but rather to ask what forums exist/ can be created to continue to fight this struggle. For a start, I will be happy to hear from my colleagues on this topic.