HOW ABOUT FREE EDUCATION?
#FeesMustFall
Fees must fall is a
protest of thousands of students across the country against the proposed fees
hiked in their respective institutions. It took place in October 2015. Read more.
Impacts of fees must fall
The fees must fall
protest had impacted both negatively and positively. The positive results on
the protests is that it was trending on social media and fortunate enough,
people majority of public supported it because everyone was talking about it,
justifying by the fact that everyone has a right to education. That made it
possible for president Zuma to announce that will be 0% increase on University
fees. Then the negative results is that the properties of some universities
were vandalized by angry students and also the classes, exams, and
registrations were disrupted Read more.
Response from different brands
How brands responded? Well some university SRCs issued a list of demand
relate to fighting students exclusion, clearing of debts which prevents
students from graduating and registering. Universities advised online and set
up telephonic registration process for certain courses. The statement from Wits
University, stated that they urge students not to disrupt the registration
process Read more.
Minister Blade Nzimande
said that the government will help to fund the university system and the other
one marked for NSFAS, then also to cover the 0% increase. He also made a joke
that students must fall which ended up trending on social media and on YouTube,
but he apologized for that. Adam Habib the Vice-Chancellor of Wits University
said that he is concerned about impending increases. The University of
Johannesburg Vice-Chancellor Ihron Rensburg donated on the fundraising of 31
million made by the university Read more.
My Opinion
 |
| Twitter comments |
With regards to the
response by the various brands mentioned, I personally think that the fees must
fall campaign was not a bad idea at all, because now students who were not
affording registration fees managed to study at their institutions without
having to worry and NSFAS has approved a large number of students. President
Zuma was fair when he said there will be 0% increase. The vandalizing of
university properties was not a good idea because it will cost the university
and that will make it to increase fees again Read more.
Recommendations
What I would recommend is that: Whenever Universities see the need of
increasing fees, they must consider the less fortunate students. Mr.Blade
Nzimande must be careful of his jokes in front of media people and he must
always keep his promises. Students should not vandalize the properties or
disrupt exams whenever they protest Read more.
Videos
Below is the video of Nompendulo Mkhatshwa addressing the crowd of peaceful protesters
Below is the video showing the protesters and police clash outside the Union Buildings as president Zuma talks with student leaders.
