Botha tells Coloured pupils to end strike

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 9

Botha tells Coloured pupils to end strike

- NZPA Cape Town The South African Prime , Minister (Mr Pieter Botha) i has ' told an estimated 100,000 Coloured (mixed ■ race) and Indian secondary schoolchildren on a month- , old boycott of classes to re- : turn to school immediately. Mr Botha, speaking after a , meeting with Coloured teachers, said that he agreed to equal education for all racial groups but not within a single education system as the striking students are demanding. The difference between white education standards and those of other racial groups in South Africa constituted an historical backlog that could not be overcome overnight, he said. The school boycott, which , began in Cape Province four ■ weeks ago to protest against > racially biased education, ; has now spread throughout South Africa’s Coloured and Indian secondary schools. African pupils have joined the protest only in Durban and a few other towns. I Mr Botha said that he was considering an in-depth in-l quiry into all aspects of edu-j cation, but added that he was not prepared to tolerate: a waste of State and tax-J payers’ money. ’ | i Observers said that thei ■Prime ■ Minister’s remarks i | were unlikely to end the protest. i If the boycott continues i despite Mr Botha’s call for 1 an immediate return to the i classroom, the Government < will find its authority se- ; riously challenged.t