Students are right but shouldn’t be violent

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Over the past few weeks there have been widespread student protests at tertiary institutions across the country against the proposed 10 percent increase in tuition fees.

The protests also reached parliament and the Union Buildings. The increase in the fees seemed to have been implemented without much consultation with student societies to get the views of the students. There can be no doubt that this increase was going to have a devastating impact on the average student’s cost of living as they would now have to pay higher fees, in addition to the hefty cost of textbooks and stationary, monthly rent, daily meals and in some cases transport costs. The financial situation for some students is so dire that many do not know where their next meal is going to come from. What makes the increase all the more frustrating for them is that it seems that some university staff are unwilling to relinquish their annual bonuses.

It seems that the Department of Higher Education does not have an adequate plan to deal with the need to make tertiary education affordable and it seems that there isn’t space for tertiary institutions in the national treasury’s budget. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has a plan to tackle this problem, as it would expand the National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS) assistance and cover the full cost of the studies, convert loans into bursaries if studies are successfully completed, provide state sureties for students not qualifying for NSFAS bursaries but seeking loans from commercial banks, and allow students qualifying with certain skills to repay loans through public service. This plan will boost the number of students successfully completing their degrees.

There are people who say that tertiary education is a privilege and not a right, however I disagree because there are currently so few jobs available that people need to be as qualified as possible. It is also important for the country to have a skilled labour force which can help grow the economy. One aspect of the protests that I do disagree with is any vandalism and violence that took place. If property was vandalised it will cost money to repair it. We live in a country where the rule of law needs to reign supreme, and therefore it can never be acceptable for protestors to break the law and create a sense of anarchy. I also hope that the protesting students have found some time to study as their exams are coming up soon, and they need to pass and graduate.

Michael Crichton

Secretary DA JHB South Constituency and DA Boroang Branch

Ward 56 public safety portfolio