The Lady Frank: Does schooling ensure success?
Numerous surveys have found that the majority of millionaires in the country have not received a tertiary education, with many going from rags to riches without a degree or as a result of old family money.
YET another government official has been placed in the spotlight after being found to have faked her qualifications.
This time the guilty party is South Africa’s ambassador to Japan, Ms Mohau Pheko, who claimed to have received a doctorate from a college that shut down before the date of her ‘graduation’.
She follows in the footsteps of Ellen Tshabalala (former SABC chairman) and numerous other highly accomplished figures who have been caught out.
It begs the question, is an education really necessary to become successful in South Africa?
Numerous surveys have found that the majority of millionaires in the country have not received a tertiary education, with many going from rags to riches without a degree or as a result of old family money.
Judging by these statistics, it would be easy to conclude that tertiary education is unnecessary.
However, it has to be mentioned that many of these millionaires are black with various links to people in positions of power and have benefited – rather ambiguously – from BEE.
Following a shortage of funds by NSFAS for university students, government has been harshly criticised for not taking enough action to aid students.
With members of government often being implicated in the unfair awarding of tenders, this gives the impression that success as a result of status and family connections is promoted rather than success due to hard work and ability.
This undermines various aspects of the Freedom Charter, particularly the right to equal opportunity, but more importantly is a worrying step backwards for the country.
Our history has been defined by the struggle for equality and this trend in employing those who know the right people or have the right surname undermines that.
It is particularly disturbing when it is the same people who fought for these rights who contribute this as evident by the many struggle figures in government implicated.
The problem doesn’t seem to be getting any better either with The Department of Higher Education refusing to pledge any permanent help though it has been pushing to get more and more universities publicised in recent years.
On the bright side, it is encouraging to see that the situation has encouraged students to take matters into their own hands with the University of Witswatersrand’s student council having recently raised over R1-million to help pay for the registration of students at the university.
Another problem with this trend is the damaging effect it has on the country’s ability to grow.
While a tertiary education does not guarantee employment, it certainly gives you an edge over someone who does not.
If there is not enough support being pledged by the government to help put students through university, then the unemployment rates will undoubtedly increase as they have over the years and this will have a domino effect on the economy and the development of the country.
The lack of urgency the government has shown in addressing the need for and accessibility to higher education for South Africans creates the illusion that a university education is not needed to increase your chances of improving your standard of living.
The opposite, however, is true and until we are able to ensure that education becomes a priority, South Africa’s success will continue to be limited.
