Pandor unveils school pledge

2008-02-12 15:50

Cape Town - A pledge the government intended having all school children recite during morning assembly was unveiled by Education Minister Naledi Pandor on Tuesday.

Based on the preamble of the Constitution, it was "intended to internalise those values we as South Africans have thought to be important", Pandor told a media briefing in Cape Town.

The matter was first raised by President Thabo Mbeki in his State of the Nation Address on Friday.

Pandor said it would be open for public comment "to see if we can live with it" and, depending on the response, children could be heard reciting it by mid-March.

"Those are universal values that you would want any human being to attach themselves to."

Asked if she envisaged objections by parents, she said she hadn't heard of a single South African who had wanted to "opt out" of the Constitution.

She said there would always be people who found fault and "will say that Nkosi Sikelel' i Afrika should be in Polish, etcetera".

"I would be really surprised if people don't want to (recite it). It speaks to the values we want to have our young people take up."

She said it would be recited at assemblies "and even in class" and that children should be encouraged to recite and memorise it.

One journalist jokingly asked whether it would be translated into tsotsi taal (gangster slang). Beeld newspaper offered to publish it and invite readers to send in Afrikaans translations.

The pledge reads: "We the youth of South Africa, recognising the injustices of our past, honour those who suffered and sacrificed for justice and freedom.

"We will respect and protect the dignity of each person, and stand up for justice.

"We sincerely declare that we shall uphold the rights and values of our Constitution and promise to act in accordance with the duties and responsibilities that flow from these rights."

- SAPA