It's 2025 – Why Are We Still Blaming Apartheid for Our Failing Education System?

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It's 2025 – Why Are We Still Blaming Apartheid for Our Failing Education System?

More than 30 years have passed since apartheid officially ended in South Africa. Yet even today, in 2025, it’s not uncommon to hear political leaders, educators, and community members explain our country’s ongoing education crisis by pointing to apartheid's legacy.

There’s no doubt that apartheid had a devastating impact on generations of South Africans, particularly in how it denied millions access to quality education. But now, three decades into democracy, it’s time to ask: how much longer can we keep blaming the past without addressing our present responsibilities?

Yes, Apartheid Left Scars – But Today’s Failures Are Ours

South Africa’s education system continues to struggle. Overcrowded classrooms, under-resourced schools, poorly trained teachers, and consistently low literacy and numeracy levels are widespread problems. While apartheid laid a difficult foundation, these issues have persisted – and in many cases worsened – due to poor governance, corruption, and mismanagement over the past 30 years.

We need to acknowledge the role of present-day decision-making in the state of education today. Continuing to blame apartheid without taking real action only delays the solutions our children desperately need.

From Blame to Responsibility: A Shift in Mindset

Blame can highlight where things went wrong, but it doesn’t fix the problem. Responsibility, on the other hand, leads to action.

While the government must remain accountable, we as citizens, parents, business owners, educators, and young people also have a role to play. The idea that only the state can fix education has left many communities waiting for change that never comes.

How Communities Can Lead the Way

Around the country, we’ve seen inspiring examples of communities taking charge of their children's education. In some areas, private individuals and local businesses have helped launch small, affordable schools that offer structure, mentorship, and quality learning – often outperforming government schools.

These don’t have to be elite institutions. Community-based private schools, co-operatives, and after-school learning centers are all possibilities. With the right support, these grassroots efforts can offer practical, sustainable alternatives for families seeking better education.

Why Education Is the Foundation of Change

Improving education does more than just produce good academic results. It plays a central role in:

  • Reducing poverty

  • Creating job opportunities

  • Preventing crime and gangsterism

  • Building responsible, engaged citizens

When young people have access to quality education and feel a sense of purpose, they are more likely to pursue careers, start businesses, and contribute positively to their communities.

Practical Ways You Can Make a Difference

If we want change, it has to start with us. Here are some simple but powerful ways individuals and groups can get involved:

  • Parents: Start or support a local learning group. Volunteer at your child’s school. Stay informed and hold school leadership accountable.

  • Teachers: Focus not just on content, but on inspiring students. Be a mentor, not just an educator.

  • Business owners: Partner with schools in your area. Sponsor a child’s tuition, donate resources, or offer internships.

  • Young people: Stay in school. Ask questions. Take your future seriously and encourage others to do the same.

Conclusion: The Future Won’t Wait

We can't rewrite the past, but we can shape the future. While it’s essential to recognize how apartheid created inequality, using it as a catch-all excuse in 2025 only hinders progress.

Real change doesn’t always come from the top – sometimes it starts with ordinary people who care enough to act.

So let’s stop waiting. Let’s start building. For our children, for our communities, and for a better South Africa.


Mr Aspeling

Founder and Managing Director


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