“Challenges Persist for South African Children on the Long Walk to School”

Nearly three decades after South Africa’s democratic transformation, the journey to education remains arduous for many children in the country’s remote rural areas. Take 14-year-old Luyanda Hlali, for example, who rises before dawn each weekday to gather firewood and cow dung, essential for her family’s daily life. Once her morning chores are complete, she embarks on a daunting 10-kilometer (6-mile) walk to reach her school in the tiny village of Stratford, located in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Luyanda’s story is not unique. Tens of thousands of children in South Africa’s most impoverished and isolated rural communities face similarly long treks to the nearest public schools. The absence of government-funded school transportation exacerbates the myriad dangers that these children encounter along the way.

One of the most pressing concerns is the safety of these young students. The absence of school buses leaves them vulnerable to assault and robberies, with girls at particular risk. This situation only perpetuates the existing inequalities in a nation described by the World Bank as the world’s most unequal. In KwaZulu-Natal, efforts are underway to press authorities to provide transportation for over 200,000 schoolchildren who must walk 3 kilometers or more to school. Under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government policy, such distances should qualify for transportation support. However, in a country grappling with high poverty rates and unemployment exceeding 25%, school buses are not a top priority.

Psychologist Melinda du Toit emphasizes that the lack of school transportation reflects the socio-economic realities and inherent inequalities of South Africa. Those who cannot afford to live in urban areas continue to suffer from a lack of access to basic services.

A 2020 Amnesty International report reinforced these disparities, highlighting that children’s experiences in South Africa largely depend on their place of birth, wealth, and skin color. The country’s education system continues to grapple with stark inequalities and underperformance, deeply rooted in the legacy of apartheid.

In KwaZulu-Natal, where more than 30% of the population is unemployed and dependent on welfare, many parents face a difficult choice between purchasing food or paying for public transport, which costs roughly $19 a month. Some children go to school without having breakfast, a dire consequence of these economic hardships.

Bongiwe Nhlangothi, Luyanda’s grandmother, expresses her fear for her grandchildren’s safety on the road. Drug addicts and criminals often target children in the early morning hours, robbing them, threatening them with knives, and attempting to assault them.

A school principal from a village near Dundee, where some girls were raped by local criminals while walking to school, shares his struggle to secure more school buses for his students. The overcrowded buses and the fear of breakdowns or accidents make the situation even more precarious.

Tragic incidents have already occurred. In September 2022, 18 students lost their lives when an overcrowded minivan crashed on its way to school in Pongola.

Matthew Ngcobo, a councilman in Endumeni municipality, emphasizes the hazards children face, including crossing a shallow but rapid river on foot. These daily challenges underscore the urgent need for improved school transportation.

Some parents have resorted to boarding their children closer to schools, but this option can be financially burdensome and leaves them without crucial assistance at home. Students like Bayanda Hlongwane, who was frequently late to school, have pleaded with their parents to live closer to their educational institutions to overcome this daily struggle.

Activist Tebogo Tshesane, representing Equal Education, a nonprofit organization, explains that the campaign for better school transportation across KwaZulu-Natal began in 2014, sparked by letters from students who endured hours of walking to school.

Government figures reveal that over 1,100 schools in KwaZulu-Natal are on a waiting list for government-funded school transportation. Unfortunately, the education department’s consistent response is a lack of funds, leaving children to continue their challenging journeys to education.

As South Africa marks nearly three decades of freedom, the long walk to school for many of its children remains a stark reminder of the enduring inequalities in the nation’s education system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Education Inequalities

More about Education Inequalities

• South Africa’s Education Inequality
• Amnesty International Report on South African Education
• President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Government Policy
• World Bank’s Assessment of South Africa’s Inequality
• Challenges in South African Education System
• Rural Education Challenges in KwaZulu-Natal
• Equal Education Organization