Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) awards a GLAD[1] to GroundUp for the article, “Eersteriver residents demand a local school” (19/02/2021) where children are shown as activists fighting an issue affecting them.

The article by Vincent Lali talks about parents and learners that demonstrated at Metro East Education District offices, demanding that the Western Cape Department of Education provide mobile classrooms. The journalist highlights the issue of how children are in a crisis of not getting a school place in their area.

This is a huge problem in South Africa as a whole as many children are struggling to get space at schools in areas they live in as they are full[2] and/or some are just not in good conditions to be used.

The article mentions how the Western Cape Education department made the arrangement for children to be transported to school in another area but parents rejected that offer as they feel, for instance, that the children are too young to be transported to another area for school with the possibility of “irresponsible drivers” and without them to “supervise [the children]”. The article reports that some of the children being offered transportation are in grades R and 1.        

MMA chose this article as a GLAD mostly due to the photograph that accompanies the article. The photo shows children taking part in the demonstration with some clad in school uniforms and masks and, holding placards with different messages relaying their displeasure. This portrays the children as active citizens with agency. According to MMA’s s Editorial Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Children in the Media, “images of children can be extremely powerful and have a significant impact on people.”[3]

One learner whose age is unfortunately not mentioned in the article is quoted talking about how “she takes three taxis to reach her school and her mother is borrowing money to pay for it”.

“Sometimes [coming late] I find the school gate closed and return home without attending classes,” she says.

 It is important that children’s voices are amplified in the media, especially on issues that affect them such as education. 

According to MMA’s Editorial Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Children in the Media, “children have a right to have their views heard on matters that affect them, so the media should try and include them.”  The fact that the journalist interviewed one of the learners to express her daily frustration on how she goes to school, enriches this article with her perspective and experience and, hopefully helps create an urgent demand for policymakers to find a solution for the affected children. Further, it ensures that children are heard and participate in calling for or finding solutions to issues that affect them.   

Well done, Vincent Lali and GroundUp! MMA encourages you to continue highlighting such issues that affect children with the children’s voices when in their best interests.                                               

By Msizi Mzolo

[1] A GLAD  is awarded to media for reporting about children in a positive way

[2] https://ewn.co.za/2021/02/15/over-25-000-pupils-still-without-a-classroom-seat-as-schools-reopen

[3] http://54.217.43.239/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/mma_editorial_guideline.pdf