Secure Their Future. Today.

A petition to repeal the delay of the Coding & Robotics curriculum and give every South African child a chance to compete in the digital world.

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Full Petition Text

TO THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION, MS. SIVIWE GWARUBE, AND THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, citizens of the Republic of South Africa, parents, educators, and advocates for equitable education, hereby petition the Honourable Minister of Basic Education to urgently reconsider and repeal the decision to indefinitely delay the mandatory national implementation of the Coding and Robotics (C&R) curriculum.

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CONTEXT:

We acknowledge the severe and undeniable crisis in foundational learning. The data reveals that 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning. This systemic collapse requires urgent intervention.

2. THE CORE OF OUR PETITION:

However, we contend that the decision to postpone the C&R curriculum establishes a false and dangerous dichotomy between foundational skills and future relevance. Sacrificing digital skills education is not the solution; it will condemn the most vulnerable learners to a future of digital illiteracy and economic irrelevance.

3. OUR PRIMARY CONCERNS:

The Deepening of Inequality and a New "Digital Apartheid"

The current policy allows well-resourced schools to proceed with C&R education while halting it for under-resourced schools. This codifies a two-tier education system and actively widens the digital divide, creating a "digital apartheid" where future opportunities are determined by historical disadvantage.

A Deliberate Mismatch with Economic Reality

The tech sector is a primary driver of growth in South Africa. By denying learners exposure to computational thinking, we are failing to prepare them for the modern job market, jeopardising their future livelihoods and the nation's competitiveness.

A Flawed Premise of Resource Scarcity

The justification of resource scarcity is contradicted by the curriculum itself. The Foundation Phase is based on "unplugged coding," requiring no devices and having trivial equipment costs. These skills are complementary to building foundational literacy and numeracy.

5. OUR PRAYER:

WE, THE PETITIONERS, THEREFORE PRAY that the Honourable Minister of Basic Education and the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education:

  1. Repeal the decision to delay the mandatory national rollout of the Coding and Robotics curriculum.
  2. Reinstate a clear, time-bound, and equitable implementation plan prioritising "unplugged" components for the Foundation Phase.
  3. Commit to a comprehensive and sustained teacher development program integrating these skills.
  4. Engage with civil society and experts to formulate a coherent national strategy for all learners.

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