- 6.6.3.2 Only one of our provinces has thus far met its obligation to subsidise the membership of schools.
- 6.6.3.3 Again, only one has thus far indicated that it may make use of services of governing body associations for training purposes - and again, the intent has not been translated into action.

State funding as a source of revenue therefore appears to be of limited relevance and uncertain standing.

- 6.6.4 Financial stability: The net outcome of these efforts and undertakings, together with careful management of our investments and cash flows, has ensured that our income surpassed the total amount expended by R51 776-39. Services, especially to indigent schools, have been expanded. Our financial situation has remained stable and we have been in a position to continue to fulfil all our mandates.
- 7 PUBLIC PROFILE

Collaboration between the Foundation and the media has not only seen them include Foundation views or comments in their reportage, but has also provided us with the opportunity to contribute 'op - eds' on matters of educational interest. Weare also regularly called on to provide background information for journalists working on breaking stories with an educational slant. Only in Port Elizabeth among the major metropolitan areas have we for some reason failed to secure significant interest in our comments from the press. Among the specific publications or media houses which have approached us are:

- 6.1 Newspapers: Sunday Times, Rapport, Sunday Tribune, The Star, The Times, Mail and Guardian, Beeld, Cape Argus, Cape Times, Daily Dispatch, Daily News, Die Burger, Pretoria News, Volksblad and The Witness;
- 6.2 Radio: SABC, Cape Talk, Radio 702, ANN7, Power FM, Eye Witness News and several regional services;
- 6.3 Television: E News, SABC, ANN.
- 7 FRUSTRATIONS AND CHALLENGES
- Given the state of the nation and its educational environment, it would be unrealistic to expect anything other than that there are significant frustrations and challenges which face us all. Among them are the following:
- 7.1 A growing authoritarianism on the part of authorities: this is illustrated by increasing efforts to diminish the role of governors and governing bodies in our schools.
- 7.2 Related to the above, there is a growing antipathy on the part of many officials and politicians towards accepting expert advice.
- 7.3 There also continues to be significant government myopia in the face of the financial pressures facing institutions in education, perhaps best illustrated by the complete lack of sympathy around state- administered price increases for municipal services.
- 7.4 Perhaps most worrying of all, the role of militant reactionaries in the disruption of schooling, ranging from union action to parent action in their various stand-offs with schools; and the even-more-troubling interruption of education by dissidents in their fights with government and disappointment with service delivery at various levels and various arenas, most of them outside of education itself. It is really worrisome that education, having been recognised as a lever in moving government, has become a pawn in the big political game.
- 8 CONCLUDING COMMENT

It would be a pity if the difficulties highlighted in some sections of this report were to give the entire piece a negative hue. The difficulties notwithstanding, many of our member schools continue to provide an educational service which I believe to be on a par with that provided both by the best schools in the independent sector locally and the most advanced state systems virtually anywhere in the world.

Hearty congratulations are extended to those many schools and individuals in them that make the foregoing judgement possible: to parents who are wondering whether they are acting in the best interests of their children in placing them in these schools; and to the hard-working, experienced, insightful and dedicated staff of the Governing Body Foundation who continue to support our schools in providing a top class service.