Government must act to stop burning of buildings by students
19 May 2016
Congress of the People condemns in the strongest terms possible the continuing torching of school and university buildings, the latest being the destruction caused at the University of Fort Hare.
The problem is that visionary leadership within government is seriously and clearly lacking. All of us are truly appalled at protesters, who have the benefit of education, mindlessly destroying school and university buildings and putting education itself at risk. Our cherished ideal was that the “people shall govern”, not that they shall burn the very instruments necessary for change, hope and progress.
The cost of education, as of health, is admittedly unaffordable for the majority of people. That is a fact. The National Treasury has very little room to put more funding into education. That is also a fact. In the circumstances a novel approach is needed to overcome the funding crisis. Universities must embrace technology more fully to allow for time-tabling that accommodates 50% of the teaching on campus and 50% off it. In this way twice the number of students can enrol and hopefully at half the present cost. Half the lectures can be delivered in person in front of a class and the other half using interactive ICT.
The government and universities must also strengthen the powers of student representative councils so that a democratic forum exists within each university for matters to be discussed and resolved quickly, creatively and constructively. In our constitutional democracy it is imperative to demonstrate to students, in a most practical manner, that their views are significant and that the best solutions are crafted jointly. More democracy will avert the insanity that leads to the use of arson in demanding a way forward.
The copycat torching of institutions requires urgent and decisive action from government and university authorities. Those who are involved in destructive action must be dissuaded in the strongest legal manner possible about the unacceptability of their behaviour.
Issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE Spokesperson, 19 May 2016
