Equal Education

For Education Legal Support: facebook.com/EqualEducationLawCentre The Story of Equal Education

Equal Education (EE) was established on the 1st of February 2008 in Khayelitsha (a working-class community in Cape Town, with a population of approximately 700,000 people, and 54 schools). Schools in Khayelitsha, like those in other poor communities, were and are under-resourced, under-staffed and overcrowded - factors which have a significantly negative impact on academic performance. We are a movement of learners, parents, teachers, and community members striving for quality and equality in South African education. Weekly EE members meet and participate in a facilitated youth group (for high school learners in Grade 8 - 12) or in branch meetings (for our other members). It is here that our members formulate strategies that use advocacy and activism to improve schools and communities across the country. Today EE is known nationally, and has members active in most provinces. Since our inception we have put education on the national agenda, have empowered young people and become the grassroots voice of education related matters in the country. We have won tangible victories in schools, securing binding national school infrastructure regulations, hundreds of millions in government funding for sanitation, a scholar transport policy and scholar transport access for 8000 learners. We have defended the rights of pregnant students and Rastafarian students who faced exclusionary policies, and been instrumental to the reform of feeder zone policies which entrench segregation. We have prevented schools being unlawfully closed, and worked towards schools remaining democratic and inclusive spaces when innovative new school policies are introduced. Finally, we have campaigned and secured improvements to countless specific schools across South Africa. Today EE is a thriving national movement, operating in five provinces, with nearly 7000 members working daily to improve education in South Africa. Qina Equal Education Qina!