PIC: THE TIMES

South Africa’s education system is spiralling out of control and failing millions of pupils.

From failure to deliver textbooks to unpaid bills and corrupt education officials, not much has been achieved since 1994.

Former health minister Barbara Hogan yesterday added her voice to the growing list of critics lambasting the failures of the country’s education system.

Speaking at non-governmental organisation Equal Education’s national conference yesterday, Hogan yesterday urged young people to mobilise and “start holding government accountable”, adding the 1976 Soweto uprising showed pupils’ strength.

“It cannot be said that just because things were bad in apartheid doesn’t mean we cannot say things are bad now. Democracy always has to be strengthened and fought for,” she said.