Is there value still in literacy?
Friday, May 15, 2015
Off to school: The value of literacy is declining in the eyes of the new generation
Failure to set foot in a classroom robbed Kgosi Gaebolae Goitseone from Jamakata of his top position in the recently gazetted village. This came after government upgraded the village Kgotla from Arbitration to Records early last year, which came with a condition that the Kgosi should be literate enough to be able to read and write.
Unfortunately, Goitseone, who had salivated for a salaried position after years of voluntary service, failed to satisfy the condition because he does not know how to read and write.
It is a warning flare to every Motswana who logs onto social media. As a country, we have reached a point where the line between robust debate and outright destruction has become dangerously blurred. At face value, Mabeo’s response, which seeks an apology and threat of a defamation suit, might seem severe to some. But we cannot ignore the context. The comment in question did not offer a policy critique or question a political decision.It...