South African schoolchildren will be taught a Bill of Responsibilities along with the Bill of Rights, Education Minister Naledi Pandor said in Pretoria on Monday.
Unveiling the Bill of Responsibilities, Pandor said: ”It is to say how we exercise rights, with the understanding that rights come with responsibility.”
The Bill, which has been largely drawn up by the National Religious Leaders’ Forum, contains responsibilities mirroring those contained in the Bill of Rights. It includes the responsibilities of ensuring the right to equality, human dignity, life, family, parental care and education.
It also includes responsibilities to ensure the right to work, freedom and security, property, freedom of religion and a safe environment.
”I accept the call to responsibility that comes with the many rights and freedoms that I have been privileged to inherit from the sacrifice and suffering of those who came before me,” the preamble reads.
”I appreciate that the rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa are inseparable from my duties and responsibilities to others. Therefore I accept that with every right comes a set of responsibilities.”
Although the Bill will not be a legal document, it will be taught to children as part of the life-skills curriculum, Pandor said.
She said posters containing the Bill of Responsibilities will be sent to all schools, universities and colleges to be displayed in classrooms.
”[It is] to really help all of us engage much more on how we deal with these freedoms, how we deal with these rights,” Pandor said.
”This is an educational, inspirational document — it’s a document that’s there for discussion and debate and inspires to educate,” said Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, of the National Religious Leaders’ Forum.
He said while the Bill of Rights has created a culture of human rights in South Africa, a culture of responsibility is also needed.
”It’s not only about what I can take; it’s what I can give. It’s not only about me; it’s about those around me because rights are what I’m entitled to and responsibilities are what other people are entitled to,” he said. — Sapa