A student holds a placard calling for free higher education. Picture: Timothy Bernard/ African News Agency(ANA)
Johannesburg - Section 29 of the Constitution states that everyone has the right to education, which includes a basic education, adult basic education, and to further education, which the state through reasonable measures must make progressively available and accessible.
This, however, is not the true depiction of South Africa for many youths.
The youth of Gauteng, whether in any higher learning institution currently or those that have been, perceive education in South Africa as a privilege as opposed to a human right.
Many argue that education is for those privileged enough to afford it.
Thapelo Masemola, 25, a primary school teacher, told The Star: “Although education is a right, in the South African context, it feels like a privilege for those that can afford it and are awarded the opportunity to access education. Higher education is now selective and restricted to a certain class.”
Koketso Matobako, 21, a graduate from Wits University, who has been excluded before, believes it is a privilege and that the system built to assist is failing those that need it the most.
“I think it’s a privilege because we aren’t granted the same opportunities even in systems that are supposedly in place to help us. My experience was when I applied for funding to pay for registration and it was granted, a year later when I applied, they denied me because I had been given funding the previous year.
“Which didn’t make sense to me because if I was unable to pay registration the previous year and I owed fees, how has my life magically changed a year later, and I’m in a position to pay registration myself (and again, I still owed fees from the previous year)?
“So I think the system is very conditioned to accommodate those who are more privileged,” Matobako said.
Thato Leshabane, 28, a student, who has seen both the rise of the hashtags #FeesMustFall and #Asina’mali, told The Star the reason education has been deemed a privilege in South Africa is because of the government’s failure to deliver on their promises.
“I honestly feel like this shouldn't be open for discussion. According to the Constitution, Chapter 2: Bill of Rights, education is a human right, and it clearly states everyone has the right to basic education, including adult basic education, and to further education.
“Our government is directly making it seem like it’s a privilege simply because they have dismally failed in fulfilling their mandate to the people.”
Leshabane questioned the National Student Funding Aid Scheme (NSFAS), in which those who were included need to repay.
“With regard to the government funding scheme (NSFAS), it’s still a big question as to why those who benefited from it should pay back the costs they incurred. What an expensive ‘right’,” he said.
Gift Makhubo, 25, a University of Johannesburg journalism graduate, said: “I think education is a privilege in South Africa. High quality private education is expensive from as early as primary school. The whole education system, tertiary included, is expensive and its quality is dependent on how much money you have. More money, better education and better prospects of getting an education.”
SA Students Congress (Sasco) spokesperson Luvuyo Barnes said as much as education is a right as enshrined in the Constitution, it is not the lived reality – and that is the reason for the national shutdowns.
“Education is a right in South Africa as enshrined in our Constitution. The challenge we have is a government which is hell-bent on ensuring the cycle of poverty and inequality continues unabated. In our lived reality, we see education only guaranteed to those privileged enough to have the financial means to study further.
“This is among the reasons we have started the national shutdown of institutions of higher learning, because we are of the view that all South Africans have a right to learn and we will fight until that right is protected and upheld.
“The government is not doing enough to cater for people who need access; in reality, this government is working hard to reverse the gains made by generations of student activists in our struggle to ensure access and success in higher education.
“It is merely lip service by this government to say education is an apex priority, one simply needs to look at Tito Mboweni’s austerity measures and the R24.6 billion he’s cut from higher education. This government is reluctant to implement the manifesto it was elected on and betrays its own resolutions and commitments.
“This government through its own actions has shown us that it has no interest in dismantling a system which was created to keep the poor and marginalised out. They have become the very people they claimed to despise and are actively working to close the doors of education for Africans from poor and working-class backgrounds,” Barnes said.
Students have been taking part in strikes around Gauteng with the national shutdown that occurred early this month in some universities.
According to reports, universities are facing a funding shortfall of more than R6bn, while the estimated historic student debt bill is estimated to be R14bn.
The Star