NEW: Academics support student struggle: Democratise higher education now

As academics in South African institutions of higher education, we stand with students in their fight for the democratisation of our universities. The current student protests that have erupted across the country are historic. They demonstrate a younger generation willing to take up the struggle against inequality, and to insist on the principle of education for all. Our students are leading the national debate on education, and we insist that they deserve our respect and attention.

 






We have witnessed students act with extraordinary discipline, tactical skill and moral purpose. This commitment and self-control has gone unseen by many university managers, government leaders and the media who have misrepresented students as uninformed, irresponsible or irrational. Protesting students have faced and overcome potentially divisive tensions within their ranks, and have shown maturity in their intellectual arguments and political interventions. Above all, they have required us to confront a grievous national problem: the persistent exclusion of those who are black and poor from higher education, and from the opportunities that higher education makes possible.


READ MORE


Follow us on Facebook:
PEFM 87.6

Follow us on Twitter:
@PEFMnews

Listen to us on streaming internet radio at: Tunein and from our website at:  PEFM



International Correspondent Scott Congdon can be reached at:
Mail: scottcpefm@gmail.com

*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6 or our presenters or correspondents.  Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.

© PEFM 87.6