No greater assurance for the future well-being of any nation can be given than the investment across the board of sound education to all its people.

Now that signs are evident of a stabilising, working education system, the next step is for leadership to accelerate the delivery of resources.

It would seem a rhetorical comment to make, but such appears to be the dire situation within South Africa’s teaching system that it was deemed necessary for President Jacob Zuma, at the 99th ANC birthday celebrations, to say: “We continue to promote our non-negotiables in education, which includes that teachers must be in school, in class, on time, teaching for at least seven hours a day.

“The government must provide textbooks and all materials on the first day of school and provide the necessary support.”

It is a ghastly indictment that whatever is termed “necessary support” is lacking in 20 000 schools!

The problems and shortfalls are identified, the money has been allocated, the government’s intent is stated – so why the deficiencies?

Leadership is required all the way down the line.

Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga reports that in our total of 24 717 public schools, no fewer than 19 550 require more desks and chairs, 19 465 have no libraries, and 20 961 have no laboratories. Across the nation, seven million chairs are needed.

Five thousand schools have inadequate water supply. Three thousand have poor or inadequate toilet facilities.

Many schools suffer overcrowding, with beyond the accepted limit of teacher-to-pupil ratios.

Many school buildings are in a state of disrepair.

Many teachers are undertrained, unmotivated, have low attendance records and create poor examination success rates.

Problems arise with students themselves who, in very poor communities, simply do not have the same work ethic as those in the achiever schools.

Often, they face arduous commutes from home to class and back for lack of transport; face house chores for their basic family survival, which curbs homework study; and, importantly, endure from their parents and guardians a sense of apathy of the need to study.

The need to educate is of national importance, which every citizen should embrace – not only teachers and students.

Leadership is sorely needed. Development of the mind must be led and sustained. Delivery of material needs is the more visible achievement.

Royston Lamond