28 February 2025

The African National Congress (ANC) Study Group on Basic Education is profoundly concerned and condemns the recent endorsement of McDonald-branded portable desks by Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube.

The rollout of this initiative is not only impractical but is also deeply undignified, placing the burden on learners to carry around their own chairs and desks as a symbol of their poverty.  In addition to carrying their chairs and desks, this initiative places an additional burden on learners by having them assemble and disassemble them before receiving an education, cutting valuable time for learning. This is an insult to the humanity of our children and the Freedom Charter ideals of a just and equitable education system.

Allowing corporations to distribute branded desks is a subtle marketing strategy we must all reject that has the potential to influence children and have unintended health consequences amid high obesity rates. We call on the Minister to prioritize the urgent needs of our schools, especially those in under-resourced areas, and to clarify when she will respond to the critical shortages of classrooms, chairs, and tables that many schools face. 

It is essential to engage with sponsors and partners in a manner that directs their contributions toward sustainable solutions that address current issues in the most vulnerable areas. Private partnerships should be redirected to focus on the long term, meaningful investments in education rather than short-term, dehumanizing initiatives that do not provide lasting benefits for our learners.

The ANC maintains that every child is entitled to a safe and conducive learning environment,

and it is the duty of our government to provide this. In a time when our resources should be directed towards building sustainable educational solutions, it is unacceptable that we resort to temporary fixes that do not address the larger crisis at hand.

As the ANC study group, we will continue to advocate for policies and initiatives that prioritize our children’s education, ensuring they have access to quality learning environments that empower them to reach their full potential. We believe meaningful engagement with private partners should align with the ANC’s policy framework, which emphasizes collaboration that directly benefits schools and enhances educational outcomes.

We urge the Minister to reconsider her approach and to prioritize meaningful, long-term solutions that truly benefit our learners instead of promoting corporate interests. Our children deserve better, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they receive the education they

rightfully deserve.

Issued by the Whip of the ANC Study Group on Basic Education, Cde Tshepo Louw

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Cde: Hlengiwe Hadebe

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