Are you happy for your five-year old to be handed over to a state institution at such a young age and possibly exposed to sex education, sexual predation, pit latrines, unsupervised public transport and a lot of institutional rules and systems and more?
Do you realise that, according to the BELA Bill, if you don’t agree to this, then you, as a parent, could be criminalised and face a fine or a jail sentence of up to one year?
Government have marketed Grade R to communities as a very positive and desirable prospect that meets developmental goals — and is in the best interests — of their children.
Grade R is indeed a crucial developmental period.
And unfortunately, many experts believe that children are, in fact, not emotionally, nor psychologically ready nor equipped to deal with the rules and systems that go with institutional education.
Children of this age should instead be learning through play and should therefore not be forced to attend Grade R.
Grade R learners still need a lot of age-appropriate emotional support and Grade R can be overwhelming and intimidating even for the bravest Grade R.
A child of this age also needs very specific educational environments and equipment.
The Department of Basic Education’s budget is already insufficient and is used as an excuse as to why many young children are forced to use dangerous pit latrines and teachers are insufficiently trained.
So, why is government suggesting the forced attendance of grade R when they can’t afford it?
Could it be because they have been offered and promised access to international funding to encourage the implementation of the above.
Regrettably, given government’s poor record of handling public finances, we, the people are not encouraged by the above.
Grade R also requires more space than is allowed for in traditional classrooms.
Inconveniently, however, there are no guidelines, nor are details provided to guarantee basic norms and standards for these schools.
Furthermore, government’s Grade R requirement will mean removing children from functioning Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities causing loss of employment to this sector.
Government is using the possibility of providing improved nutrition for children at school as a justification for forcing compulsory attendance of Grade R.
However, why doesn’t government just give ECD facilities food grants and save taxpayers from additional infrastructure expense?
And finally, are you okay with children of this age being exposed to sex education?
According to the UN’s own International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education document, children between 5 and 8 should, for example, be able to define gender and biological sex and describe how they are different and must be able to identify sources of information about sex and gender.
And, according to this same document, our government has signed up to their CSE program. So, although CSE is currently only being taught from Grade 4, our government has in fact given a commitment to start teaching sex education at the age of 5, i.e. Grade R.
Please refer to Point 2 which mentions how unsafe our educational environments are – rife with sexual predation and crime.
For all children, never mind a child of 5, this is a terrible situation and of deep concern!