The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, and Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, commemorated the International Day of the Boy Child at the Thaba Tshwane City Hall in Centurion today under the theme: “The Legends, The Youngins and The Boys”.
In her address, Minister Gwarube said: “Through our global efforts to uplift women, and the girl child in particular, there is the unintended consequence of leaving the boy child behind in our classrooms and our communities. Boys are either disengaging in schools or they are repeating grades. This has a societal impact and we need to make sure that we are supporting boys and giving them space to be vulnerable to become positive male models; and to grow up to be responsible men, citizens and leaders, not engaging in violence”.
The Minister added that, “recent comprehensive studies, including the South African Systemic Evaluation (SASE) and The Fifth Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SEACMEQ V), reveal a troubling pattern of educational underperformance amongst boys in South Africa. This systematic gender gap appears across all grades, subjects, geographic regions and socio-economic levels. In reading literacy, there is a significant difference between boys and girls at the emerging level in Grade 3; boys demonstrate lower health knowledge than girls across all contexts; and boys who experience frequent corporal punishment show higher rates of aggression, antisocial behaviour and academic difficulties, often leading to dropout. We must invest in inclusive and equitable learning environments where boys learn emotional intelligence and empathy through intergenerational dialogues, positive role models, research and the development of a national framework to ensure that every child, regardless of gender, can flourish”.
“The UNESCO Global Report on the Disengagement of Boys in Education reveals concerning data about the trajectory of boys’ schooling. The South African Development Community (SADC) Study on the Vulnerability of Boys indicates the greater need for Sexual and Reproductive Health support for boys. This intergenerational assembly marks the beginning of a coordinated effort to create supportive environments where boys can develop emotionally, academically and socially whilst becoming allies in gender equality. Not yet ratified by the United Nations, the International Day of the Boy Child started being commemorated by different actors of society in the world in 2018, recognising the need to address the specific challenges and needs of boys. This day does not compete with the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, but rather complements it, embodying a holistic approach to gender equity that recognises that all children need support and care appropriate to their unique circumstances. A 2023 Presidential engagement brought to the fore the voice of the boy child though a collaborative film “What about the Boys’’, which shone the spotlight on the role of men and young boys in ending the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) epidemic and the need to address the vulnerability of young men and boys,” said Deputy Minister Mhaule.
The commemoration is a collaboration between the DBE, UNESCO, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the German Development Agency (GIZ), SABC Education, the Baithudi Mampane Foundation, the YouthStart Foundation and PRIMESTARS. The engagement brings together generations of male role models to create meaningful dialogue and concrete strategies to support boys' wellbeing, whilst mobilising resources for sustained interventions. “Through the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) initiative, the DBE is working to combat GBV in schools. Early childhood experiences shape boys' development. Schools play a crucial role by providing knowledge about gender stereotypes, healthy relationships and respect. This intergenerational assembly represents more than a single event, it marks the beginning of a coordinated effort to create supportive environments where boys can develop holistically, By addressing boys' specific needs, we strengthen not only their futures, but South Africa's educational outcomes and social fabric as a whole. South Africa intends to make a submission to the United Nations for this day to be ratified and recognised as an official international day by the UN,” explained Mr Likho Bottoman, Director for Social Cohesion and Equity in Education.