Learning from mistakes: creating a new spirit for a democratic school system in South Africa
Learning from mistakes: creating a new spirit for a democratic school system in South Africa

Summary/Abstract: One of the greatest challenges that the fi rst democratically elected government in South Africa has been addressing since 1994 is the country’s transformation from apartheid education to democratic education. In order to democratise education and redress the inequalities of apartheid, a series of policy changes has taken place in line with the new South African Constitution of 1996. The fi ve main principles identifi ed by the African National Congress that feature prominently in the new education policy documents are non-racism, non-sexism, democracy, a unitary system, and redress (National Education Policy Investigation 1993). A true democracy is dependent on democratic education, and democratic education requires, among other things, democratic teaching and management, the development of critical thinking, and the development of participative, reciprocal, non-discriminatory relationships among members involved in an educational setting. Although the structures for development in South African schools are in place and current education policy documents are primarily directed towards the democratisation of education, it would be incorrect to conclude that educational life in South Africa is already following a democratic mode. Democratic societies need to be open in order to fl ourish, and in an open society, certain attitudes and perspectives must be cultivated: asking questions – even unwanted questions; engaging oneself in critical, yet respectful discourses; being prepared to learn from mistakes.

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