The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) is accusing the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, of neglecting schools in the rural areas and townships.

Cosas national president Kenny Motshegoa says Pandor introduced what they call a "controversial" no-school-fee policy without consulting them. Motshegoa says the no-school-fee policy will create more problems as it is meant for learners in certain schools only, while it does not address the problem of lack of resources at schools.

Cosas is also demanding free education for all learners in public schools as they say it was promised by ANC. "To ensure that we have free education in the country, all private schools must be nationalized so that they can be controlled and owned by the government. We are concerned that private schools in the country have been reduced to places where racism and sexism is practiced. Private schools also isolate pupils that cannot afford, as they do not follow the South African School act and they do not support programs of the government," he said.

Motshegoa says there must be single uniform for all the schools in the country. "As much as our government can provide uniforms to prisoners in the country, they can do the same to schools learners," says Motshegoa.

Motshegoa is accusing Pandor of being self-centered by surrounding herself with body guards and security at the department’s offices while neglecting learners and teachers.

Cosas is also urging the department to come up with a program that can help learners realize the impact of HIV/Aids. "We are also calling for sex education that will empower learners to resist peer pressure and abstain from sex as Love Life is concerned about popularizing themselves while isolating learners in their programs," says Motshegoa.

Cosas staged protest marches around the country except in Mpumalanga and they have given Pandor fourteen days to respond to their demands during their last protest march held in Polokwane on Friday, April 14.

The Director General in the Department of Education, Duncan Hindle, says: "We have responded to Cosas memorandum within deadline they set and it is up to them, Cosas, to share our response to the media. We also set a meeting with Cosas so that we can discuss this issue in the near future."