How did education change for nonwhite children during apartheid?
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Schools became integrated with white and nonwhite children being taught together
The schools were only allowed to teach nonwhite children things like counting and manual labor skills
The lessons taught in schools for nonwhite children got much more challenging so that it was hard for them to graduate
The schools for nonwhite children were all shut down and they had no access to education
During apartheid, education for nonwhite children underwent significant changes that were driven by the oppressive policies of the apartheid government. Some key developments included:
1. Segregated Education: The apartheid government implemented a policy of racial segregation, which extended to education. Nonwhite children were provided with separate and inferior schools compared to their white counterparts. This resulted in the creation of separate education systems for different racial groups.
2. Inferior Infrastructure and Resources: Schools for nonwhite children were generally underfunded and had poor infrastructure compared to schools for white children. They often lacked basic facilities such as libraries, science laboratories, and sports grounds. This disparity in resources further perpetuated the inequality in education.
3. Limited Curriculum: The curriculum offered in schools for nonwhite children was designed to fulfill the requirements of the apartheid system. Subjects such as mathematics, science, and critical thinking were given much less emphasis compared to more practical and manual labor-focused subjects. This restricted the educational opportunities and future prospects of nonwhite children.
4. Ideological Indoctrination: The apartheid government used the education system as a tool for ideological indoctrination. Nonwhite children were taught a heavily biased curriculum that promoted the ideology of white supremacy and racial segregation. This further reinforced and perpetuated the apartheid ideology among nonwhite communities.
5. Bantu Education Act: In 1953, the apartheid government passed the Bantu Education Act, which regulated the education of nonwhite children. This act aimed to limit the education provided to nonwhite students, restrict their access to quality education, and prepare them for a life of manual labor. It ensured that nonwhite schools received significantly lower funding compared to white schools.
6. Limited Access: The apartheid government also imposed restrictions on the access to education for nonwhite children. Some nonwhite children were forced to attend schools far away from their homes, requiring long and arduous commutes. Additionally, black children were often denied access to higher education institutions, which severely limited their educational opportunities and future prospects.
Overall, education for nonwhite children during apartheid was marked by segregation, limited resources, biased curriculum, and restricted opportunities. These oppressive policies aimed to maintain and perpetuate the racial inequalities enforced by the apartheid system.