The Soweto Riots were sparked by dissatisfaction with which aspect of apartheid policy?

The Soweto Riots of June 16, 1976, were primarily sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with the education policy implemented under apartheid, specifically the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in black schools. This policy was deeply resented by black South Africans, as Afrikaans was associated with the oppressor and the language of the apartheid regime. The protests began as a peaceful demonstration by students in Soweto, but they quickly escalated when police confronted the demonstrators with violence.

The grievances associated with education during this time included poor quality schooling, systemic inequalities, and the overall oppressive nature of the apartheid education system, which aimed to stifle the intellectual development of black South Africans. This unrest highlighted not only anger about language policy but also broader issues of educational disenfranchisement and inequality within apartheid governance. The response to these protests became a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid, symbolizing the youth's role in the broader anti-apartheid movement.