Abstract
D.Ed.
The past four decades will probably be remembered as revolutionary in South-Africa - years of unrest during which attempts were made to change and reform the system of education in South-Africa, particularly in the black and brown areas. The South-African education system did not respond to the demands and needs of the black and brown pupils. The education system was caught in the web of a political spider spun by the dictates of the apartheid system. The structure and organization of the education system, as well as the influence of political, social and economic factors promoted the development of a system which was primarily aimed at benifitting a minority group (the whites) of the population. The inequality, underlined by the system of apartheid led to the segregation of and rebellion against this system by black and brown pupils, their parents and teachers.
The school has been the focus of political-ideological conflict and the black schools became an instrument for revolution. In the past few years and particularly since 1994 a new generation of pupils has emerged to claim equal education for all, where all
pupils, regardless of race or colour are entitled to the same quality of education.
After the first democratic election on 27 April 1994, South-Africa has chosen to follow a new road where equality for all people has become the most important focus. In the search for "freedom, equality and brotherhood" which promotes integration and non-racism in schools, it has become essential to examine and revise existing educational theory and practice. Creative solutions must be found and applied in order to create a climate of learning in the schools, in order that pupils, irrespective of their colour, heredity, language, religion, sosio-economic background or gender may find optimal benefit.