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Early learning opportunities vital for Matric success

By Professor Eric Atmore

Once again the National Senior Certificate results are poor, notwithstanding the small increase in passes from 67.8% to 70.2%.

Whilst only 70.2% of those children who wrote the 2011 National Senior Certificate exam passed, a far more frightening picture emerges when we look at the cohort of children that began Grade One 12 years ago. Official education department statistics tell us that 1,035,192 children that started in Grade 1 in public schools in 2000, and 872,693 (84.3%) reached Grade Seven, the last year of primary school. 496,090 wrote the Senior Certificate examinations in 2011 and 348,117 passed. This is 33.6% of the cohort that began school in 2000, revealing that only one in three children passed the senior certificate examination.

The good news is that this is up from 24.4% in 2009 and from 27.6% in 2010. That this situation is untenable should not be disputed although Minister of Education Angie Motshekga says she is “...happy with the results” while President Jacob Zuma is more circumspect saying that the improved pass rate “...is a step in the right direction”. Minister Motshekga has no reason to be happy especially since obtaining a pass is not that difficult. Pupils only require 40% in their home language, 40% in two other subjects and 30% in the three other subjects to pass. Despite making achieving a pass very much easier, the increase in pupils passing is marginal.

Numerous reasons for this are put forward, including poor teaching in schools, teachers not in classrooms, lack of support to schools, not enough teaching time, inefficient systems, inadequate exam-writing skills and more challenging exam papers. But we have heard this many times before from successive education ministers, all of whom had the power to make a difference.

It is clear that the education system continues to be plagued by obvious weaknesses that act as barriers to the performance of pupils. It does not take a genius to work out that we need to remove these weaknesses. Like each education minister before her the current Minister stresses that we must intensify our efforts to address these weaknesses.

To combat the poor showing year after year government needs to invest more heavily in the early years of education. Expanding and improving the quality of early childhood development (ECD) programmes for young children is a proven programme and sustainable solution.

International research, corroborated by a range of South African studies, shows empirical evidence that good quality early childhood development experiences produce significant social, economic and developmental benefits to children, families and communities.

A child who attends a good quality early childhood learning programme enters formal schooling:

• More confident and able;
• More likely to proceed through school without repeating a grade;
• Less likely to need remedial education;
• Less likely to be involved in crime; and
• More likely to get paid employment as an adult.

In addition, young girls who attend a quality early learning programme are less likely to become pregnant while in their teens.

If a comprehensive and effective national ECD programme, supported by government was in place it would clearly have a major impact on performance of pupils and on the national senior certificate results.

American researchers David Weikart and Larry Schweinhart quantified these outcomes in dollar terms. They calculated that each dollar spent on early childhood development produces a cost saving to society of $16.14. This return on investment is remarkable and would be the envy of corporate executives.

Yet our national and provincial education authorities, while doing more than any pre-1994 government, nevertheless continue to limit young children’s access to early childhood development programmes through inadequate policy, strategy and practice.

Nationwide there are some 1.1 million young children in about 24,000 early learning centres. More than 90% of this is community initiated provision. This represents 20% of the 0 to 6 age population and means that large numbers of vulnerable children do not benefit from a structured early learning programme, in a positive learning environment, prior to entering Grade 1.

Some young children grow up in environments and circumstances where parents are able to devote considerable time to their early education needs. In these homes books, magazines and newspapers are readily available and are read to children, and counting games and pre-numeracy activities take place which encourage the development of numeracy.

But, for families living in poverty, the situation is very different. Stretched for time and resources, these parents are not able to provide the optimal environment for the development of literacy and numeracy. The result is that most of these children enter Grade 1 not having experienced even one year of a structured learning programme and the effect is felt twelve years down the line in poor school leaving results, if they ever get there.

Government’s Grade R programme is an attempt to meet this deficit but it is too little, too late. The ECD White Paper plan was to ensure that every child received at least one year of Grade R education prior to entering Grade 1 by the year 2010. But this programme itself is way behind schedule and President Zuma subsequently announced that this will only be achieved by 2014. Reality is that is not likely to be reached before 2016 at the earliest and probably only by 2018.

National ECD policy is flawed. The system does little to increase access or to improve quality, government resource allocation is miniscule and the implementation plans, where they exist in the provinces, are severely flawed. In the policy there is no state provision, only state-assisted provision with minimal financial support. A little more than 1% of the education budget is allocated to the early years.

While the pervasive problems of poverty are not easily eradicated a radical rethink of early childhood development policy, strategy and practice is needed at a national level. Non-government organisations with many years of experience and much expertise can add value here. Our organisations are willing and able to make a huge contribution to meeting the needs of our youngest children.

As a country we need to make a much greater investment in education at the level that produces the greatest social and economic return, the early years, and see the benefits all the way through the education system. It is only by going back to the most important formative years that we will get the education system right and produce senior certificate results that we can be proud of.

*Eric Atmore is Adjunct Associate Professor of Social Development at the University of Cape Town and Director of the Centre for Early Childhood Development.

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“The constitution is a monument to people like Imam Haron”

The strongest memorial to the late Imam Abdullah Haron and others like him who died in police detention is the South African constitution.

Delivering the fourth annual Imam Abdullah Haron Memorial Lecture at the University of Cape Town on 28 September 2011, former constitutional court judge Justice Albie Sachs said the fate of Imam Haron and the many others who died at the hands of the apartheid police motivated those in the liberation movement to ensure that such atrocities would never occur again under the post-1994 democratic dispensation.

“The Constitution, which took up to six years to draft, is also the greatest monument to those people who died during the struggle. Their lives were picked up by the Constitution because it also incorporates their ideals and it speaks to everyone in the country,” Justice Sachs said.

“The early 1960s were turbulent and difficult for our struggle in Cape Town. Many people from the Muslim community, including a number of imams, were right in the thick of things.

“The most prominent and bravest of them all was Imam Haron. We were profoundly shocked when we heard, while in exile in London, that he had died at the hands of the security police,” Sachs added.

He said he remembered Imam Haron as a strong and committed man who was always in the front line and never on the periphery of the struggle against injustice and oppression.

“The pain of his death is a permanent pain and I would like to praise his family. When we were writing the constitution we included a clause that no one in this country should ever be subjected to detention without a trial again,” Sachs revealed.

He went on to warn the government not to tinker with the main elements of the constitution. “South Africans have won the right to know and speak our minds and I can't see us easily giving that up. We know about the threats to our constitution because the press remind us 24-7. People speak out and protest. We are not a scared society. We are not downtrodden. We know about injustices because people speak out,” he added.

Sachs, whose involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle started at the age of 17, lamented that the government had tried “lots of honest things that had not worked, but hopefully it had learned from its mistakes.

“I am saddened by so many things that are wrong and unacceptable but there is a buoyancy to South Africa. For all the pain, problems and difficulties, South Africa is a terrific country,” Sachs said.

In addition to the Memorial Lecture, the IAHET annually allocates 35 bursaries worth R5 000 each to tertiary level students – the Trust has thusfar disbursed R711 000 to 138 students since its inception in 2005.

Three years ago the Trust also commenced a maths and science tuition programme which assists matric learners at three schools – Steenberg, Joe Slovo and Spine Rd with extra tuition in these subjects. Last year all three schools produced pass rates of more than 70% in the two subjects.

New projects in the pipeline include increased funding of early learning centres in marginalised areas and a re-publication of the previously banned book, the Killing of the Imam, written by Barney Desai and Cardiff Marney, which details the killing in police detention of Imam Haron.

Click here to a read transcript of the Albie Sachs lecture (525Kb)

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E & Y accounts for Early Childhood projects

At least 450 children will benefit from new educational equipment now at their disposal following a R20 000 donation made to the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) by international accounting firm Ernst and Young.

The funds were used to purchase educational equipment such as literacy and numeracy sets, puzzles and educational games which will be utilised at four centres in Heideveld and Athlone. The centres were identified by the Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECD) who are recognised leaders in the field of Early Childhood Development.

The equipment wasn’t simply handed over but rather 10 practitioners from the respective centres participated in a two-day training workshop in August run by ECD specialist Gill Naeser at the CECD’s Claremont premises.

The workshop focused on building the capacity of ECD practitioners in using effectively the educational equipment now at their disposal. The practitioners were shown effective and innovative ways of using the equipment to enhance the learning process and were also taken through a system of maintaining and securing it to ensure its longevity.

The workshop will be supplemented by onsite support visits to ensure the equipment and skills acquired at the workshop are effectively implemented.

“We are grateful to E & Y for the funding which will go a long way towards enhancing the learning experience for the young children at the respective ECD centres. The IAHET will continue to expand on initiatives such as these. It is very gratifying to see the hard work of the Trust achieving the ideals of the late Imam Haron,” said IAHET trustee Sabier Patel, who attended one of the workshop sessions.

“The benefit of the E & Y donation is that each day 450 children will now be able to use the educational equipment thereby receiving a quality early learning programme which builds their literacy, numeracy and life skills. This repeats itself each year with different children so the donation has a significant multiplier effect for these ECD centres. Thank you to E & Y for putting young children first,” said CECD director Professor Eric Atmore.

The donation forms part of the IAHET’s commitment to increasing its spending in the sphere of ECD while at the same time retaining its commitment to the bursary and matric tuition programmes.

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IAHET makes its mark

Six years after its establishment in September 2005, the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) continues to grow and make an impact, albeit limited, to students and marginalised communities in the field of education.

Addressing the IAHET’s annual general meeting at Alexander Sinton school hall on 13 July 2011, chairperson Mustaq Brey said he was pleased with the steady growth of the trust.

‘What is heart-warming is the fact that we have, in a small and humble way, managed to make a difference to the lives of at least some people who live on the margins of society,’ he said.

‘The bursary fund, which remains our flagship activity, continues to grow in terms of the number of applications we receive although we have decided to peg our funding at R175 000 for 35 bursaries in order for the trust to reach our eventual goal of an 80-20 funding split in favour of early childhood development as outlined in our mission statement,’ Brey added.

The Maths and Science tuition programme for matric students, which was first introduced at Steenberg High School three years ago, and has since been extended Joe Slovo and Spine Road High Schools last year, also made a big impact.

After starting out at Steenberg High School three years ago, the programme was extended last year to include Spine Rd High in Mitchell’s Plain and Joe Slovo High in Khayelitsha thanks to sponsorship by Santos FC and Brimstone Investment Corporation. These sponsorships supplement the funds raised for the programme at the annual IAHET Golf Day held in November at the Rondebosch Golf Club.

Attendance at the classes, which take place after school hours twice a week, was excellent and the principals at the three schools have been effusive in their praise for the enthusiasm shown by the learners and their respective tutors.

All three schools had pass rates of over 70% in Science and two had over 70% in Maths with Joe Slovo producing the top achievers in both subjects in the Khayelitsha region.

Click here for the full 2010-11 annual report and financial statements

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Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust Bursary Recipients for 2011

The 35 recipients of the annual Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust bursaries were announced at the organisation’s AGM held at the Alexander Sinton High School Hall on 13 July 2011. The bursaries are worth R5 000 each.

Selected from a record number of 254 applications, the recipients are all tertiary level students who were selected on the basis of need and academic ability, irrespective of race, gender or religion.

After disbursing a modest R50 000 to 10 tertiary students in its first year of operation, the Trust was able to assist another 35 students to the tune of R175 000 for the 2011 academic year. Since its inception in 2005 the Trust has now assisted 138 students with bursaries worth R711 500.

The bursaries are administered free of charge by the Hospital Welfare and Muslim Education Movement (HWMEM).

“The record number of applications we received this year highlights the need for funding among students in marginalized communities. We are also pleased to note the high quality of applicants which at the same time is cause for regret since we are only able to help less than 20% of those worthy students who applied,’ said Mustaq Brey, chairperson of the IAHET.

LIST OF 2011 IAHET BURSARY RECIPIENTS

Name	Institution	Course of Study
Irfaan Abbas	UCT	PG Dip Acc
Bradley Anthony	UWC	BSc
Cassandra Carels	UWC	Psychology (Masters)
Dylan Coetzer	UWC	BSc (Physio)
Rifdah Da Costa	UCT	MBChB
Kyle Daniels	CPUT	BTech (Tax)
Ismail Davids	CPUT	Dip Acc
Siphathise Dyongo	UWC	BA
Ameera Ebrahim	UWC	BComm
Nadia Fakier	UWC	B Comm
Faakirah Gamiet	UWC	BEd
Sara HallGreen-Pauli	UWC	BA(LLB)
Ragmah Hendricks	UCT	BSc
Karen Hufkie	UCT	BComm
Riyaaz Isaacs	CPUT	Surveying
Gadeeja Jabaar	UWC	BA (Pysch)
Jo-Anne Jagers	UCT	BSc (Speech)
Ameer Jappie	UCT	BSoc Sci
Shuaib Karriem	UCT	B Bus Sci
Rene Kotze	UCT	BSoc Sci
Tracy-Ann LeBreton	UWC	BA (Hons)
Thembelani Magidgidi	UCT	BSc (Astrophysics)
Beatrice Miller	UWC	BA
Firdows Norton	CPUT	BEd
Zikhonia Nqankase	CPUT	Info Tech
Zakareeyah Pandey	UCT	BSc (Physio)
Sara Safi	UWC	BSc (Physio)
Sivuyile Sesi	UWC	BA
Sonia Solomon	UWC	BEd
Rushdi Stevens	UWC	B Bus Sci
Inga Steyn	UWC	BA
Ismail Thomas	Stell Univ	B Sc
Saajida vd Schyff	Stell Univ	BSc (Dietetics)
Kylie Wilson	UCT	B Soc Work
Sascha-Lee Yon	CPUT	Hospitality Management

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Fasting priest passes away

Tributes have poured in for Reverend Bernard Wrankmore, the Anglican priest who undertook a protest fast at the Signal Hill Kramat for 67 days to demand that the Apartheid government hold an open inquiry into the death in police detention of Imam Abdullah Haron. Rev Wrankmore passed away peacefully in Cape Town on 10 June 2011 at the age of 86.

The priest who was popularly known as Rev Bernie, captured the imagination of Capetonians and inspired many youth in the 1970s to speak out against police atrocities by his courageous and selfless protest action.

Rev Wrankmore decided to fast at the Kramat until the apartheid government opened a public inquest into the Imam’s death but was persuaded by close family and friends to stop after 67 days when his health was seriously compromised due to his daily nutrition being restricted to orange juice and water.

Imam Haron was the 20th person to die in detention under security legislation in South Africa at that time. His death caused a furore and was taken up, among many others, by a local opposition MP, Catherine Taylor and city councillor Eulalie Stott who was also a member of the Black Sash. All of these efforts failed to move then Prime Minister, BJ Vorster to agree to hold a judicial inquiry into the matter.

“He was very strong-minded and strong-willed and what he stood up for was always right,” his wife Val told the Cape Times.

“He was against detention without trial and he thought he had to do something about it. He never knew Imam Haron but was appalled by what happened to him after he was detained on 28 May 1969 and died on 27 September that year,” she added.

An inquest found that Imam Haron had blood clots from trauma, 24 bruises and a broken rib but the magistrate’s finding supported the security police’s version that he died from falling down a flight of stairs.

On the second anniversary of Imam Haron’s death Rev Wrankmore started his fast in an attempt to force the government to open a commission of enquiry, which it refused to do.

The Haron family paid tribute to the sacrifice made by Rev Wrankmore, particularly coming as it did at a time when few people, even those within Imam Haron’s own Muslim community were prepared to speak out on the circumstances of his death.

“On behalf of the Haron family we wish to convey our deepest sympathies to the family on the passing of Rev Bernie Wrankmore. As a family we remember Rev Wrankmore‘s very brave stand and lonely intervention against the apartheid regime‘s inhumane laws and injustices; we commend him for having fasted for more than two months demonstrating his abhorrence against the manner our father, Imam Abdullah Haron, was killed at the hands of the Security Branch whilst he was in detention.

“We sincerely pray that the Almighty bless his efforts and making his voice known during trying times; may the the Almighty bless his soul and may he rest in peace,” said Prof Muhammed Haron, son of the late Imam Haron, speaking on behalf of the family.

Mustaq Brey, chairperson of the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust, added his condolences to the Wrankmore family. “On behalf of the IAHET I wish to express our sympathies to Rev Bernie’s family and friends on the loss of a courageous and inspirational person. His dear ones can be proud of Rev Bernie who, through his courageous action at a time when it was life-threatening to do so, inspired many activists to speak out against the atrocities committed by the Apartheid government.”

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Putting for Bursaries

The fourth annual Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) Corporate Golf Day held on 7 March 2011 at the picturesque Steenberg Golf Club once again proved to be an outstanding success.

Sixteen four-ball teams (see list below) participated in the event which raised just over R176 000, all of which will go towards funding 35 bursaries for tertiary level students.

IAHET Chairperson Mustaq Brey thanked all companies and teams who participated saying without their contributions there would be no bursary fund. ‘The Golf Day has established itself as a prestige event among our regular donors, most of whom have played in every Golf Day since it was started four years ago. Without their participation we certainly would not be able to run the bursary fund which has grown from the R50 000 we disbursed in 2006 to the R175 000 we now award annually to 35 students.’

Mrs Mary Burton, well-known and respected social activist praised the participants for their role in assisting needy students to complete their studies. ‘I had the privilege of meeting the late Imam Haron a few months before his death and I found him to be a humble and committed person who cared very much about providing a better future for the marginalised people of the country.

‘Your participation in fund-raising events like the Golf Day is important to provide opportunities for the youth of our country about whom the late Imam Haron was very passionate,’ said Mrs Burton, a member of the IAHET Board of Trustees during her address at the prize-giving ceremony.

Shalena Naidoo, one of last year’s bursary recipients, thanked the golfers for their participation in the golf day which provided the funds to allow her to pursue her studies. ‘I was fortunate to be awarded an IAHET bursary which allowed me to do achieve my dreams of doing my MSc in Medicine at Stellenbosch University,’ said Ms Naidoo.

Khalid Abdullah, Gasant Orrie, Saleem Triegaardt and Ashraf Roomaney of DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr won the team event beating Saleem Haider, Saleem Sonday, Omar Razack and Murtie Najaar of Mail & Guardian into second place.

Participating teams:

• Brimstone Investment Corporation Ltd
• Coronation Fund Managers
• Deloitte
• DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
• House of Monatic
• Mail and Guardian
• KPMG Inc
• Lion of Africa Insurance Co Ltd
• Lion of Africa Life Assurance
• African Monarch 710 Holdings (Pty) Ltd
• Mushaky Family Trust
• Broshore/Max Brozin Family Trust
• Oceana Limited
• Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (SA) Ltd
• Sea Harvest Ltd
• PricewaterhouseCoopers

Winners : IAHET Chairperson Mustaq Brey (left announces the winners of the 2011 Corporate Golf Day (l-r) Saleem Triegaardt, Khalid Abdullah, Gasant Orrie, and Ashraf Roomaney of DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. IAHET trustee Fatiema Haron-Masoet (front) presented the prizes which were donated by Solly’s Discount World. Sanlam and Lucky Star also donated prizes.

Longest Drive: Nigel Pillay (left) of the Coronation Fund Managers team won the award for the longest drive off the 9th tee. With him is IAHET trustee Fatiema Haron-Masoet.

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UCT honorary doctorate for Mary Burton

IAHET trustee Mary Burton has been nominated to receive an honorary doctorate in Social Science from the University of Cape Town.

Ms Burton, who has a long and distinguished history of activism for social justice, will be awarded her degree at the university’s December graduation ceremony along with David Potter, the founder of microcomputer systems companies Psion and Psion Teklogix.

Teaching legend Stella Petersen and UCT Emeritus Professor Martin West have also been honoured by the university and will receive their degrees in June.

“This year’s honourands were selected after careful consideration of what they have each contributed not only to their respective areas of expertise, but to education,” said UCT Vice– Chancellor Dr Max Price. “This could be through the provision of fellowships, as David Potter has done; encouraging transformation and reconciliation, as Mary Burton has done; service to UCT, in the case of Martin West; or contributing more directly with superlative teaching skills, as Stella Petersen has done.”

Mustaq Brey, chairperson of the IAHET Board of Trustees, paid tribute to Mrs Burton saying the honorary doctorate was richly deserved given her tireless efforts to ensure social justice in South Africa. “We in the IAHET are honoured to have someone of Mary’s calibre and stature on our board. It says a great deal about the esteem in which she is held that a world class institution like UCT has deemed it fit to recognise her contribution to the democratic society in which we are now living.”

In a media release, UCT’s Marketing and Communication Department described Mary Burton as follows:

Born in Buenos Aires in 1940, Burton emigrated from Argentina to South Africa 1961. In the subsequent 50 years, she was involved first in the struggle for human rights in South Africa, then in national reconciliation in the post-Apartheid era.

She has exceptional leadership qualities, displayed over several decades at the highest levels of organisations committed to human rights and civil liberties. These include the Black Sash, which she joined in 1965 and in which she served as president from 1986 to 1990; the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in which she served as a commissioner in the Human Rights Violations Committee from 1995 to 1998; and various other bodies, such as the Surplus Peoples Project, the National Council of Women, the Civil Rights League and the SA Institute of Race Relations.

In 2000 she helped launch the Home for All Campaign, which called on white South Africans to contribute to reconciliation in recognition of the benefit and privilege they had had under Apartheid. In 2003, the Order of Luthuli (Silver) was conferred upon her by President Thabo Mbeki. The following year she received the highest provincial award, the Order of Disa, conferred by Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool, and the Reconciliation Award, conferred by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

(Source: UCT Communication and Marketing Department)

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Tuition adds to Maths pass rate

As many young students in marginalised areas continue to approach Maths and Science with trepidation, thanks to years of poor facilities, a lack of qualified teachers and neglect by the education authorities, the IAHET’s Maths and Physics tuition programme has played its part in reversing this trend as matric pass rates continue to rise at the schools where the programme is being run.

After starting out at Steenberg High School three years ago, the programme was extended last year to include Spine Rd High in Mitchell’s Plain and Joe Slovo High in Khayelitsha thanks to sponsorship by Santos FC and Brimstone Investment Corporation. These sponsorships supplement the funds raised for the programme at the annual IAHET Golf Day held in November at the Rondebosch Golf Club.

All three schools had pass rates of over 70% in Science and two had over 70% in Maths (see table below) with Joe Slovo producing the top achievers in both subjects in the Khayelitsha region.

‘The learners have thoroughly enjoyed themselves with the Maths and Science tuition programme. There are a few learners who did very well in the final exams, and we have also managed to increase our overall pass rate to 75.7% from a meagre 27% two years ago,’ said Mr Majiet Parker, principal of the school.

‘Without the help of the IAHET the school would never have been able to afford to run these classes. As you know many of these learners come from very deprived homes that are domestically unstable and the socio-economic environment is not conducive to learning and studying. Financially, the parents of our learners could not afford extra tuition for both Grade 12 Mathematics and Physical Science as many of them are unemployed,’ Mr Parker added.

Mr Riyadh Najaar, principal of Spine Rd High also paid tribute to the impact of the programme on his school’s matriculants. ‘Thanks to the intervention and support with our Maths and Science program, our learners were more focused on these two subjects.

‘The program also helped to eliminate the fear for these subjects. The learners enjoyed the contact sessions very much and it certainly helped to improve their results. We hope that this program can continue to enable the new groups to also enjoy the same benefits,’ he said.

‘It gives me great pleasure to inform you that our matric candidates of 2010 performed very well in the subjects that are supported by your programme. Physical Science was identified as one of the most improved subjects at our school in terms of the matric results,’ said Mr Andre Kraak, principal of Steenberg High.

‘I therefore wish to express my appreciation to the IAHET and all the sponsors who made it possible for our young people who often deem the above learning areas as insurmountable, to pass. Our gratitude is also extended to Mrs Deidre Bastian for her sterling work and always encouraging our learners to remain focused. It is our prayer that the Trust will continue to impact on our youth in this fashion,’ Mr Kraak added.

Mustaq Brey, chairperson of the IAHET Board of Governors, said he was happy that the programme was able to achieve its aim of demystifying Maths and Science among students in marginalized areas. ‘It really is gratifying to see how the programme has managed to make a positive impact on the learners who will hopefully be role models for those who follow them at their particular schools.

‘In addition to thanking the principals and the tutors at the respective schools, I would also like to thank all those who have participated in the annual IAHET Golf Day at Rondebosch Golf Club, where the funds for the programme are raised, and also to the sponsors Brimstone and Santos FC,’ said Mr Brey.

MATHS & PHYSICS MATRIC RESULTS: 2010

School	Maths	Physics
Joe Slovo High	60%	74%
Spine Road High	79,2%	72%
Steenberg High	75%	73,7%

Mr Majiet Parker, principal of Joe Slovo Secondary School in Khayelitsha, conducts the after-hours Maths tuition class at the school

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Edited version of the third annual Imam Haron Memorial Lecture delivered by Mr Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Economic Development

Imam Haron was an exceptional man whose impact and legacy has helped to shape the consciousness, has helped to shape a generation of activists.

Imam Haron was one of the finest examples of the generation of our parents. An Annual Memorial Lecture and an Education Trust Education Trust is a fitting tribute to someone who lived his ideals in his practice.

Apartheid was designed to enslave a majority to be in the economic service of the minority. It was not simply race prejudice but economic imperatives that drove that system.

The big battles of those generations that fought for freedom was the struggle for land, housing, adequate health care, economic power, workers rights, education, housing and adequate health care.

It was black poverty rather than the petty restrictions that was the driving force of the resistance against Apartheid.

Our generation became involved in the fight against Apartheid. When I was a teenager in the mid–1970s and our generation of young people became involved in the fight against Apartheid some of our elders warned us to stay out of politics and to focus on our schoolwork saying, “Do you want to be killed like Imam Haron?”

For them it was a warning and an expression of fear, an argument that they regarded as self–evidently compelling. Some of our elders warned us because of their deep love for us, an act of protection of the old towards the young. A fear that they would lose their children through the kind of ruthlessness the state showed in dealing with the Imam.

But there were others, both in our community and outside it, who told us this as a cynical sneer about the futility of protest and a justification of inaction in the face of enormous power and might.

Millions of South Africans previously denied now live in houses, have electricity, and running water while social grants have been expanded.

And yet as we recognise the progress has been made it is not nearly enough. That which Imam Haron stood for has a long, long road to travel. Poverty levels remain very high and many South Africans live below the breadline.

16.5 million South Africans live on less than the poverty measure of R269 per person per month. Six million people who wish to be employed are unemployed. Many who are employed are trapped in low–paid jobs. These statistics sum up the human stories, the social justice challenge of our age.

Today SA ranks among the top ten countries in the world with the lowest rates of employment and the highest rates of unemployment.

Democracy is about how to change the lives of our people. But not everyone agrees. There are some who see poverty, inequality and unemployment as too big to take on, that the global economic forces that drive these outcomes are too powerful for a relatively small economy such as South Africa’s to withstand.

We should not accept the philosophy of paralysis and fear, it is not a philosophy of a free people. There are others who demonstrate a blind faith in the power of markets to address these challenges, who argue that the state simply needs to step aside, simply let the pursuit of individual self interest be the engine that grows the economy which in turn automatically would grow the number of jobs which in turn very neatly and tidily would address the social challenges of poverty and of inequality.

We should not accept the philosophy of greed even when dressed up in the language of general interest. It is a defence, however elegantly stated, of the status quo.

There are some who do want change but who have a competing project to that, I think we all agree, was associated with Imam Haron. They see the opportunity of democracy as the moment to pursue the narrow empowerment in which public wealth, public resources and public policies are captured by the few who are nimble, who are ruthless and who are well–connected. We should certainly not accept this philosophy of privilege and enrichment even if that privilege knows no colour, if it condemns the many to lives of misery and poverty.

Yes, we are shaped by the world we live in. It does provide constraints to what we may wish to do but it also offers opportunity if we are prepared to be bold. We spoke earlier about a man who displayed courage.

Courage in our context is the ability to do what is necessary even if it is unpopular. Imam Haron lived in a time when many of his peers were cowed by the power of the Apartheid state. Some of them chose the expedient route of silence, caught in a world of slawats and ritual, while people were systematically denied political freedom, deprived of the right to vote or confined to a vote in a second class system.

Today there’s a choice of similar proportion that goes to the unfinished business of our liberation struggle. Not this time the denial of the right to vote but the lack of the right to a decent job. It is this task that we are now placing at the centre of the national agenda to develop a new growth path for our country.

The new growth path must start with the recognition that our economic policies must be consciously designed to address poverty and inequality where they cannot be the residual outcome of other action but the purpose of policy.

That economic policy must redirect and transform growth in order to bring about greater equity based above all on the creation of decent employment of many more of our people. Some do want change that was associated with Imam Haron. The challenge for government is how do we realise it practically. It’s not the will only but the preparedness to do something different.

Imam Haron was part of the generation of the 1960s — one of a number of committed activists in different organisations who showed courage in the face of enormous odds. The Western Cape contributed many of those activists. Our challenges today are in some ways different to the challenges he faced. And yet the townships that he visited, the poverty that he confronted, the change in the lives of people that drove him are the central pre–occupation of our time too.

As I reflect on the relevance of Imam Haron’s life to contemporary South Africa I single out his preparedness to see suffering where many closed their eyes, to be disturbed by that evidence he saw and to act in order to change that suffering, this is a unity of belief and practice which as so many times in social struggles means going beyond what is convenient, what is expedient, what is safe. It is a quality that a free people must always nurture.

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Tribute to Mr Noor Moerat

Mogamat Noor Moerat is remembered for his contribution to our society.
Mr Moerat was well-known for his contribution in the field of education and his participation in transforming our society through his vision.
The new South Africa is founded on the ideals of true freedom which he embraced. Mogamat Noor Moerat witnessed transformation in his lifetime.
He was a passionate educationist and liberated the minds of those he taught. As a school principal he fought against “Bantu” education.
His leadership qualities enabled him to contribute in many ways to the liberation of South Africa.
Notwithstanding the untimely death in 1998 of his son Dr Adiel Moerat, who was murdered at his surgery in Gugulethu, Mr Moerat continued to embrace everyone around him.
Thank you to the Moerat family for sharing him with us.
At the IAHET our former Trustee will be sorely missed. The legacy he left behind as an educationist will be remembered by all who knew him.

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IAHET continues its growth spurt

The continued growth of the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) was lauded by chairman Mr Mustaq Brey at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting held at Alexander Sinton High School on 14 July 2010.

“The continued growth of the Trust, which is now in its fifth year of operation, is really heart-warming and I would like to think that we have, in a small and humble way, managed to make a difference to the lives of at least some people who live on the margins of society,” said Mr Brey, addressing nearly 100 people who braved the elements to attend the meeting.

“The bursary fund remains our flagship project. This is illustrated by the record number of 187 applications we received for the 35 bursaries we are awarding to tertiary students this year. The number of applications is nearly triple last year’s figure of 67 and six times more than the 30 applications that were received in 2007, he added.

This year R175 000 was disbursed to 35 students bringing the total amount to R536 500 which has assisted 103 students with paying for their studies.

Mr Brey recorded his thanks to the companies and individuals who participated in the IAHET’s annual Golf Day at which the bursary funds were raised. He also paid tribute to the Hospital Welfare and Muslim Education Movement (HWMEM) for their assistance in administering the bursaries free of charge.

The Chairman also highlighted the impact of the Maths and Science tuition programme, which, after last year’s successful introduction at Steenberg High School, has now been extended to Spine Rd High in Mitchell’s Plain and Joe Slovo High in Khayelitsha.

Mr Andre Kraak, principal of Steenberg High School had this to say about the tuition programme: “The June and September results showed a great improvement. However, our Physical Science students did not do too well in the final NSC Examinations. The Mathematics Department produced better results and it underscores the significance of the programme.

“The value of IAHET investment in our community cannot be under-estimated. We laud your continued assistance and those who support this worthy cause.”

Early Childhood Development

Over the past year the IAHET was able to provide Edendale Primary School in Manenberg with the funding to install a new Jungle Gym, repair the existing one and also to buy some much-needed equipment like a camera and portable music system at a total cost of R34 000. This is in keeping with the Trust’s commitment to increase its funding of pre-primary education.

Mr Brey revealed that the IAHET’s Board of Trustees have recommitted the organisation to its mission statements which seeks to devote 80 percent of its educational funding budget to pre-primary related projects and initiatives.

The late Mr Noor Moerat, a founding trustee of the IAHET, who passed away on 18 December 2009, was honoured when Fatiema Haron-Masoet and Mary Burton, two IAHET trustees handed over a scroll of tribute to his widow, Mrs Gadija Alaweya Moerat.

“Boeta Noor, as he was affectionately known to all, was a man of tremendous integrity and wisdom, an educationist par excellence who played a great role in guiding us through the early years of the Trust’s existence. Despite his advancing years and ill health during the latter part of his life, Boeta Noor was still committed to making his contribution to the Trust. We are indeed privileged to have been able to work with him and benefit from his wisdom and guidance,” said Mr Brey.

Click here to view the full annual report and annual financial statements for 2009/10...

The matric students are all ears as Mr Majiet Parker, principal of Joe Slovo Secondary School in Khayelitsha, conducts the after-hours Maths tuition class at the school

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Tuition programme lauded

The IAHET’s pilot Maths and Science tuition programme for matric students which was launched at Steenberg High School last year has been lauded by the school’s principal, Mr Andre Kraak as having played a major role in not only improving results but also reviving interest in the subject among learners.

“Our Grade 12 learners, parents and educators had the privilege in 2009 to witness the launch of the IAHET-academic programme at our school. There was great hype around the programme and the Physical Science and Mathematics learners were enthused by it. The educators concerned acquitted themselves in exceptional fashion with the emphasis on work ethic and delivering results,” said Mr Kraak.

Mr Gary Dudley and Mrs Deidre Bastian, who teach Maths and Science respectively at South Peninsula High School, presented the tuition programme after school hours on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

“The June and September results showed a great improvement. However, our Physical Science students did not do too well in the final NSC Examinations. The Mathematics Department produced better results and it underscores the significance of the programme,” Mr Kraak added.

“It needs to be borne in mind that the Governing Body has, without success, endeavoured to appoint a qualified Physical Science educator at the school for the past four years. This did not deter us from continuing to offer this “scarce” subject for the benefit of the community. It is in light of this situation that we deem the IAHET programme as crucial to improve the Physical Science and Mathematics results.

“At the same time it gives us hope for the future and encouragement to continue offering Physical Science, the only school to do so in the area. Our learners come from socially unstable homes, compounded by economic impoverishment. They can by implication thus not afford to secure the services of tutors who can give them the personalized attention.

“The value of IAHET investment in our community cannot be under-estimated. We laud your continued assistance and those who support this worthy course,” he continued.

Mr Kraak also revealed that he had received a congratulatory note from the Western Cape Education Department on the school’s improved through-put. “It is only through the support and active involvement on the part of IAHET that we could have achieved this result.

“This accolade further speaks volumes of your personal contributions to ensure that our learners have a fair chance to succeed out there, too,” he said.

Buoyed by the success of the programme at Steenberg High School, the tuition will continue at the school this year as well as being extended to two other schools in marginalised areas on the Cape Flats.

Funds for the tuition programme are raised at the IAHET’s annual November Golf Day.

Key players in the launch of the IAHET maths and physics project at Steenberg High.
Back (l-r), Mr Gary Dudley(maths teacher), Ms Zubeida Brey (IAHET), Deidre Bastian (physics teacher), Mujahied Ismail (Steenberg High learner) and Junaid Daries (IAHET).
Front (l-r), Brian Isaacs (IAHET), Fatiema Haron-Masoet (IAHET), Mustaq Brey (IAHET chairperson), Simone Hammersley (Steenberg High learner) and Andre Kraak (Steenberg High principal)

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Record Number of Bursary Applications

This year saw a record number of 187 applications being received for the annual Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) bursaries. The number of applications is nearly triple last year’s figure of 67 and six times more than the 30 applications that were received in 2007.

“We are totally overwhelmed by the number of applications we have received. It’s an indication of the current economic climate but also of the increased profile of the IAHET,” said Junaid Daries, head of the Trust’s education sub-committee.

“We have shortlisted 50 students who will be interviewed within the next few weeks. We aim to conclude the process by 24 April,” Daries added. The IAHET intends to award 35 bursaries to the value of R5 000 each to tertiary level students who are registered at officially recognized institutions.

The bursary scheme is administered in conjunction with the Hospital Welfare and Muslim Education Movement (HWMEM) who provide their services free of charge.

In its four years of existence, the IAHET has already allocated bursaries totalling R371 500 to 78 students.

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Companies swing for Bursaries

The second annual Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) held at the Steenberg Golf Club on 5 March 2009 proved to be an even bigger success than the inaugural event held at the same venue last year.

Playing in near-perfect conditions on a bright, sunny late summer afternoon in magnificent surroundings, the competition was strong among the 15 four-ball teams.

The Lion of Africa team comprising Priyen Moodley, Douglas de Jager, Fred Robertson and Morné du Plessis walked off with the first prize followed by the Deloitte team of Geoff Fortuin, L. Cotton, Rory Hofmeyr and Nick Rous. The Sea Harvest team of George Bezuidenhout, Janni van Breda, Louis Penzhorn and Andrew Hendricks finished in third position.

Richard Edwards and Jonathan Bisschoff won the nearest to the pin awards on the 7th and 17th holes respectively while Rory Hofmeyr and Jared Wingate-Pearse hit the longest drives on the 5th and 9th holes respectively.

The great spirit that was engendered on the course was evident at the prize-giving dinner where IAHET chairperson Mustaq Brey thanked all companies and teams for participating in what was ultimately much more than a golf event.

Mr Brey explained that the annual Golf Day was held to raise funds for the IAHET Bursary programme which has thusfar allocated R220 000 in bursaries to 42 tertiary students over the past three years. This year an amount of R167 685 (after expenses) was raised to fund bursaries for 30 tertiary students.

“Without the participation of the 15 teams and their companies as well as those who generously sponsored the event, we would not be in a position to assist needy and deserving students to complete their studies,” said Mr Brey.

“It must also be borne in mind that the IAHET, unlike many other NGOs, has no overheads since all members of the Trust volunteer their services so all monies raised go straight to its intended recipients,” he added.

Mr Brey also outlined other projects that the IAHET is involved in including the recently-launched maths and science tuition scheme at Steenberg High School. He added that if successful the scheme would be rolled out at other schools on the Cape Flats.

Fred Robertson, executive chairman of Brimstone Investment Company, paid tribute to the late Imam Haron saying it was due to the selfless efforts of people like him that South Africans were able to enjoy the freedoms afforded to them in the post-Apartheid dispensation.

“I remember as a young man the massive funeral he had at City Park in Athlone. We should really be grateful to people like Imam Haron, who made the ultimate sacrifice, that we are now able to enjoy the fruits of freedom.”

The IAHET would like to express its sincere thanks to the following teams who participated in the Golf Day:

• Sea Harvest
• Oceana
• Brimstone
• Mushaky Family Trust
• Old Mutual
• DLS Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
• Investec Securities and Private Bank
• Lion of Africa Insurance Co.
• Nedbank
• Deloitte
• Santam
• Nandos
• KPMG

Other Sponsors:

• Glenn Ho
• African Monarch
• Asch Consulting
• LA Parker
• Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs
• Phambili Vuna Investments
• Masoet Dental
• Eyesave
• Solly’s Discount World

Winners - the Lion of Africa team (l-r) Priven Moodley, Morne du Plessis, Fatiema Haron-Masoet (IAHET), Mustaq Brey (IAHET), Douglas de Jager and Fred Robertson.

More pictures on Event Diary...  

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Gordhan calls for social activism at IAHET Jo’burg launch

Three years after launching in Cape Town during which time it has funded more than 40 tertiary level students as well as a computer facility at a primary school in a marginalised community, the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) has now established a presence in Gauteng.

Speaking at the Johannesburg launch of the IAHET at the Johannesburg Country Club on 29 October, Pravin Gordhan, Commissioner of the SA Revenue Services, commended the IAHET for their efforts to help South Africans remember Imam Haron whom he lauded for “his passion for freedom and his determination to create a South Africa without poverty.”

Gordhan, himself a former activist who spent several periods in detention for his role in the anti-Apartheid struggle which started during his student days in the 1960s, said while the IAHET’s vision of empowering through education was important, more young people were required to emulate Imam Haron’s genuine activism, magnanimity and non-racial solidarity if the myriad social problems which blight today’s society are to be overcome.

“There are two challenges that our society and indeed the world faces – a more enlightened youth committed to social justice and a new societal culture that combats poverty.

“Committed to community rather than myself; youth who will sacrifice their time and energy to help mobilise all of us into action on any number of fronts on which we can make a difference; creating a vibrant civil society, increasing radically our participation in societal affairs. Youth whose freshness and innocence will remind us what honesty, sincerity and solidarity means,” said Gordhan.

The SARS Commissioner also called on the youth to commit themselves to understanding issues of social justice which would allow them to demand that adults change their ways if they want a world and a country that offers a better life to all its peoples.

“The values which the Imam stood for – that of sharing, building community, selflessness and social justice - have a unique opportunity to come to the fore in the present times.

“But there is also food for thought for all of us in respect of the economic and social culture we have in South Africa presently. Our society also nurtures individualism over community, greed over modesty, selfishness over philanthropy and a limited inclusivity over a true social solidarity.

“The founders of the IAHET and their efforts will remind us constantly of the legacy of the Imam and help us to nudge our conscience, rekindle the spirit of solidarity and reinforce the role played by social activists. South Africa needs more of you,” Gordhan added.

IAHET Chairperson Mustaq Brey said he was happy with the Johannesburg launch adding that he hoped Gordhan’s speech would motivate more people to become activists for social justice.

“He delivered a powerful and inspiring message which provided the IAHET with the necessary encouragement that we are on the right track. Launching the Trust in Johannesburg also provides people from that region with the opportunity to learn and derive more inspiration from the exemplary life of Imam Haron.

“It was also encouraging that two people were inspired enough to approach me afterwards to ask us to have similar functions in Lenasia and Laudium. That is something we will pursue in the new year when we will also look at honouring other heroes such as Ahmed Timol and Billy Nair, among others,” said Brey.

To coincide with the Gauteng launch, the IAHET announced a partnership with Islamic Relief to fund the Osizweni Centre, a community–based facility in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg.

Osizweni is a Zulu term, which means a ‘Place of Help’. The centre, which is being run by Islamic Relief, provides a diverse range of activities including:

• Day care for infants
• After school care for children from primary schools
• Skills training for widows and older siblings in sewing and beadwork
• Counselling for people who suffered abuse
• Counselling for people infected by HIV and affected by the AIDS pandemic
• Youth activities
• Community food garden
• Life skills training

The IAHET’s involvement in the Osizweni project represents an expansion from its original exclusive focus on education-related projects to now also encompass issues relating to social justice.

The sacrifices of Imam Haron and many others were to achieve a just and equitable social order, which evidently, has not yet been attained in South Africa.

The current social situation in South Africa is far from healthy with high unemployment, poor education facilities in so-called townships resulting in poor academic performance, poor health facilities, social ills such as drug abuse and crime, as well as widespread moral degradation within society.

Furthermore, there have been riots and protests against mediocre service delivery, and in some cases, non-delivery, by the state. This inability to deliver has accumulated over the last 14 years and organisations like the IAHET and others have an important role to play in highlighting and providing solutions to the issue of uplifting marginalised communities that bear the brunt of the country’s social, health and education problems.

Read Pravin Gordhan’s speech ...

SARS Commissioner Pravin Gordhan called for a renewed spirit of social activism in his keynote address at the Johannesburg launch of the IAHET.

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“Monster” OBE has failed miserably, say academics

Prescribed content “stifled creativity”

By Jade Witten, Cape Argus, 8 October 2008

Outcomes-based education (OBE) has failed the South African education system “miserably”, a panel of academics has concluded.
They debated on the success or failure of OBE at the inaugural Imam Haron Memorial Lecture at the University of Cape Town last night.

The event was hosted by the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust, which was established in 2005 to honour Imam Haron, who was an anti-apartheid activist for education, justice and equity.
He died in police detention in September 1969.

Brian Isaacs, principal of South Peninsula High School, was one of the panellists. He did not mince his words as he described OBE as a “monster created by the national Education Department”.

“OBE failed in America, Canada, New Zealand and I am still waiting to see the evidence that OBE was a success in SA”, he said. Isaacs said that at the onset of democracy, certain political organisations had prioritised liberation instead of improving education.

Professor Yusef Waghid of the Department of Education Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University argued that OBE fell short of the goal of a liberal teaching system where pupils had the opportunity to be creative, engage in arguments and critique confidently.

Instead, they were given prescribed content, teaching them what they ought to know and simultaneously curbing their creativity, Waghid said.

“How can we tell learners to make their own choices when the choices have already been made for them?” he asked.

Waghid said OBE was designed to make pupils more employable by teaching them skills, but did not prepare them thoroughly for university, where they would be given a lot of content to absorb.

Dr Ivan November, head of the department of education and social science at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, said OBE did not address the social injustices of the past, since all schools did not have access to equal resources.

“OBE is manipulative, as it is a predetermined and planned curriculum that leaves no room for creative ideas from learners,” he said.

Professor Pam Christie, adviser to provincial Education MEC Yousuf Gabru, argued that the problem with OBE in South Africa was the interpretation and implementation thereof, not the actual system.

“I think the current system has some severe problems based on the performance level of SA on an international scale and the poor level of children who can read and write,” she said.

Another issue was the amount of paperwork that teachers had to deal with in the system, specifically the portfolios that were the primary form of evaluation.

Professor Christie said teachers had not been properly prepared for OBE as they were orientated but not taught how to teach the OBE curriculum.

“OBE was meant to be transformative and creative, to move away from the apartheid methodology. “The way the system was implemented was a major problem,” she said.

Professor Christie suggested that the Education Department revert back to the initial OBE plan and provide guidance to teachers.

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Computers bring joy to Lawrencia

“It was really a moving experience to see the joy on the faces of the children when they were able to touch a computer for the first time.”

Those words spoken by Mustaq Brey, chairperson of the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) at the launch of the computer laboratory at Lawrencia Primary School in Kraaifontein, aptly sum up the significance of the facility to the learners whose parents are poor and mostly illiterate farmworkers.

“I was glad that the IAHET could work with Dell computers and Islamic Relief to assist the pupils and staff at Lawrencia Primary in a small but significant way. These are the kinds of projects we as a Trust would continue to be involved in to give expression to the ideals and vision of the late Imam Haron. Hopefully we will be able to extend our involvement to other schools in similar situations.

“I would encourage individuals to assist the Trust with their time, money and ability so that we may grow the legacy of the Imam. I would also encourage other NGOs to work with us where we have common goals,” Brey added.

While Islamic Relief was able to secure 25 brand new computers worth over R100 000 from Dell Computers, the IAHET was able to provide the R53 000 required for the installation of electrical points, workstations, chairs and an air conditioner.
“A project of this magnitude and nature is here to stay, to liberate and uplift a marginalised community. We regard ourselves as fortunate to be involved in a partnership with Islamic Relief and the IAHET, which honours a great man like Imam Haron. We applaud both organisations for their initiative which will go a long way towards fulfilling our children’s educational needs,” said Achmat Peters, principal of Lawrencia Primary.

Cassiem Khan, country director of Islamic Relief Worldwide said his organisation was proud to partner the IAHET in attempting to meet the educational needs of children in an impoverished rural area.
“The children will benefit from a computer training centre providing access to information and computer technology that will directly enhance their potential. It will also expose them to a brighter world outside of their misery which is characterised by substance abuse, unemployment and poverty.”

Heshmat Khalifa (left), Islamic Relief Worldwide’s fundraising director and IAHET’s Zubeida Brey and Mustaq Brey (right) interact with some of the Lawrencia Primary School learners at the opening of the computer lab.

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The IAHET will be partnering with Islamic Relief in the running of the Osizweni Community Centre in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg.