BY BONGANI NYATHI

When you think about inner city schools, somewhere the image of drug sniffing, knife wielding, pregnant and indolent teenagers that has become symptomatic of most South African schools comes flooding.  it is in this background that the African Democratic Institute extended its debate programmes to these largely poor schools.  Surprisingly these learners show depth of maturity, understanding of issues than the screaming matches, shallow name calling and blatant insults that characterises most of our national discourse these days.

The inner city high schools debate was initiated in November last year with the aims of nurturing debate, tolerance of dirvegent views and different cultutres, to promote dialogue amongst the youth about current affairs and to incalculate a culture of reasearch and informed discussions amongst learners.  The first debate was held in November 2009 with only 3 schools and about 60 learners taking part.  Having observed the learners dissect complex political, social and economic arguments with incredible mastery which might turn our seasoned political, economic, social commentators into arm chair critics, we resolved to make these debates a monthly feature of the inner city high schools calendar.

From our first debate to out last debate we started with three schools taking part and ended with fifteen schools participating in our last debate in February 2010.  Topics discussed range form nationalisation, polygamy, crime, role of the youth in politics to xenophobia, HIV/ AIDS and bullying in schools.  Learners managed challenge sterotypes, interrogate tradition but also show vision and leadership in a variety of issues.

Learners won prices ranging form scholarship (in Brian Mathibe from Basa tutorial Institute for a year), stationary vouchers, medals and certificates.  We have also indentified learners for our leadership development programmes were learners interact with expects on various subjects of interests. Our debates last debate was attended by 200 learners form 15 schools.

The is a tradition in African culture that children should listen to elders attentively, unquestioningly and unflinchingly do as they are told.  it is an age old tradition designed particularly to instill discipline and respect in the African child.  The proponents of such a tradition believe in its merits,  they argue that unless we go down to such traditions our youths will be come of age with no respect.  I believe the future of African youths lies in the incalculation of the culture of debate and consultation from a tender age.  Our children should not grow up believing that if you disagree with some one that person becomes an enemy to be humiliated and totally destroyed.