South Africa: Government Responds to Human Rights Watch Criticism of Education Policies

Our June 2004 report, Forgotten Schools: Right to Basic Education for Children in Farms in South Africa, spurred government action to improve the right of South African children to obtain an education. The report highlighted the government’s neglect of farm schools, which provide the only educational opportunity for many of South Africa’s rural children. Citing our report, and relying extensively on our research, the South African government appointed a committee to specifically examine schools on commercial farms. This issue, largely unknown before the release of our report, has motivated the press and public alike. After reading about our report in the media, one private U.S.-based company donated desks to a South African school. The same company is organizing large-scale corporate donations to farm schools in several South African provinces.