Bantu Education Act
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| Apartheid legislation in South Africa |
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Precursors |
Bantu Education Act of 1953 was a South African law which codified several aspects of the apartheid system. Its major provision was enforced separation of races in all educational institutions. Even universities were made 'tribal', and all but three Missionary schools chose to close down when the government no longer would subsidize their schools. According to Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, only Roman Catholics, the Seventh-Day Adventists, & the United Jewish Reform Congregation continued using their own finances to support education for native Africans. No science or mathematics was taught under Bantu education, emphasis was placed on agriculture as the Apartheid government wanted black people to be educated farmers, not scientists or mathematicians.
[edit] Implementation and effects
The introduction of Bantu Education led to a huge reduction of government aid to the already ailing learning institutions of black Africans. The law forced institutions under the direct control of the state. The National Party now had the power to employ and train teachers as they saw fit. Black teachers' salaries in 1953 were extremely low and resulted in a dramatic drop of trainee teachers. The policy of Bantu (African) education was aimed to direct black or non-white youth to the unskilled labor market, to ensure white control and prosperity. All of the above was carefully orchestrated and implemented in the name of "God" by the powers that be. By controlling the media they convinced the white electorate that the cause was "just" and it would greatly benefit blacks in South Africa.
Black political organizations reacted with anger at the new law. Thousands of parents vowed they would rather have children roaming the streets than to be subjected to Bantu Education.
The ANC and other political parties suggested that private schools be set up, but the authorities were well prepared, and had a new law in place making it compulsory for all schools to be registered with the state. By 1956 the majority of black youth was forced into Bantu Education. In 1959 this type of education was extended to "non white" Universities and Colleges with the Extension of University Education Act, and the internationally prestigious University College of Fort Hare was taken over by the government and degraded to being part of the Bantu education system.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Timeline of the University: 1959. Official website of University of Fort Hare. Accessed 2007-12-03.
