Sudáfrica

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Sudáfrica: Underfunding of universities needs presidential attention

Noticias

África/Sudáfrica/Octubre de 2016/Autor: Tammy Petersen/Fuente: News 24

RESUMEN: Dos décadas de escasez crónica en el sector de la educación superior deben ser abordados de inmediato por los que están en los más altos niveles de gobierno, dijo el Consejo de la Universidad de Witwatersrand el viernes. Ha abogado por el instituyente urgente de una reunión multidisciplinaria, de deliberación para explorar las opciones de financiación sostenible para la educación superior de manera que ningún estudiante se excluya financieramente, asi como el establecimiento de plazos y etapas claro, los recursos necesarios y la capacidad de los gobiernos para asegurar que el trabajo requerido sea llevado a cabo de manera expedita. «El sector de la educación superior en África del Sur está en crisis con las protestas estudiantiles en curso que provocan la interrupción y destrucción. El enfoque de estas protestas es el elevado precio de los enseñanza superior, que está restringiendo el acceso de un número significativo de estudiantes», dijo el consejo en un comunicado .

Two decades of chronic underfunding in the higher education sector need to be addressed immediately by those at the highest levels of government, the council of the University of the Witwatersrand said on Friday.

It has called for the urgent instituting of a multi-disciplinary, deliberative gathering to explore sustainable funding options for higher education so that no student is financially excluded; the establishment of clear time frames and milestones; and the necessary resources and capacity from government to ensure that the required work is undertaken expeditiously.

«The higher education sector in South Africa is in turmoil with ongoing student protests causing widespread disruptions and destruction. The focus of these protests is the unaffordability of higher education which is restricting access for a significant number of students,» the council said in a statement.

«Access to higher education should not be the preserve of those who can afford it. At the same time, we cannot allow deterioration in quality. It is for this reason that the council…recently joined most other constituencies at the university in openly declaring its support to work towards the goal of free, fully-funded, quality, decolonised higher education.»

The council said this aim should be «considered within the broader context of the pervasive poverty, unemployment and inequality in our country».

«If one examines this context, it is clear that universities cannot be expected to achieve the goal of free, fully-funded, quality, decolonised higher education in isolation from other stakeholders, particularly government.»

Research funding

It was «deeply distressed» by the proposed short-term funding levels, the council said.

«Our universities are a significant national priority. They are the only institutions that are capable of producing the high-level skills that are required to advance innovation, tackle the challenges of the 21st century, and safeguard South Africa’s economy and its future.

«We are particularly distressed by the proposed funding for research-intensive universities, which we believe for a university like Wits will be 4% less than inflation next year. Our country needs high levels of investment in top-end research to create new knowledge that is relevant to society and that will enable us to participate in the global knowledge economy. This is also critical to enabling our universities to promote indigenous knowledge and its inclusion in curricula.»

It said universities were at risk of losing academic talent to the private sector and other countries if they could not be paid adequately or work in an environment that is conducive to learning, teaching and research.

«The fact that numerous universities are unable to continue with the 2016 academic programme has immense consequences for the country. The unfortunate, but necessary and unavoidable presence of police and private security is a further tragedy. For these and many other reasons, it is imperative for stability to return to the sector.»

The situation is a national crisis and requires the president and his office to lead in finding resolutions, the council said.

Sustainable solutions

«The inclusion of the National Treasury in the ministerial task team is an important step in the right direction, but we believe that the president should be at the forefront of exploring options for the sustainable funding of higher education.

«We also call on all relevant stakeholders, including Parliament, the private sector, civil society and others to join our request that public universities be adequately funded. We call on genuine student leadership to come forward and demonstrate real commitment to finding sustainable solutions.»

Violent protests have been playing out at Wits, as well as at other universities across the country.

Students in September began protesting over free education after Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced that tertiary institutions could raise fees, but by no more than 8%.

In his medium term budget policy statement on Wednesday, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said an extra R17.6bn is needed over the medium term to fund South Africa’s higher education system.

Government will draw from the contingency reserve to make funds available from existing budgets.

Government to fund increase for some students

A portion of the resources to support university students will be found elsewhere from within the post-school education system.

University subsidies will grow at an annual average rate of 10.9% over the next three years, while allocations to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) will be increased at 18.5% providing support to underfunded university students.

In the 2016 budget, R5.6bn was added to university subsidies to fund the shortfall caused by there not being an increase in fees for the 2016 academic year, Gordhan said.

In the same budget, Nsfas received additional funding of R10.6bn over the 2016 medium-term expenditure framework period.

Of this amount, R2.5bn was allocated in the current year for short-term debt relief for 71 753 unfunded or inadequately funded students who were at universities in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 academic years.

The remaining R8bn was for unfunded new and continuing students for the 2016 academic year and beyond.

In the 2017 medium-expenditure framework, government will fund the increase in fees at higher education institutions for the 2017 academic year, up to a maximum of 8% for students from households earning up to R600 000 per year, Gordhan said, while top-ups will also be made to Nsfas.

Fuente: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/underfunding-of-universities-needs-presidential-attention-wits-council-2016102

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Sudáfrica: Clashes in Cape Town as students demand free tuition

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África/Sudáfrica/Octubre de 2016/Fuente: Aljazeera

RESUMEN: Los estudiantes en la ciudad sudafricana de Ciudad del Cabo se han enfrentado con la policía durante la protesta exigiendo educación gratuita en todo el país. La policía lanzó granadas de aturdimiento, cañones de agua y gases lacrimógenos mientras trataban el miércoles para dispersar a la multitud de manifestantes estudiantiles. Según AP agnecy noticias, los estudiantes quemaron un ataúd de madera simulada para el ministro de Educación para mostrar su descontento con la respuesta del gobierno a sus demandas. Al Jazeera Haru Mutasa, la presentación de informes del centro de Ciudad del Cabo, dijo que al menos un estudiante resultó herido durante el enfrentamiento. «Los estudiantes siguen viniendo. Ellos se niegan a irse. Se mantuvieron escondido entre las tiendas,» dijo. «Ellos son firmes y dicen que quieren una educación gratuita, incluso si el gobierno sigue diciendo que no puede permitirse el lujo de pagar.» Los manifestantes dijeron que quieren una educación universitaria gratuita para ayudar a la  brecha de la desigualdad de Sudáfrica.

Students in the South African city of Cape Town have clashed with police during protest demanding free education across the country.

Police fired stun grenades, water canons and tear gas as they tried on Wednesday to disperse the large crowd of student protesters.

According to AP news agnecy, students burned a mock wooden coffin for the education minister to show dissatisfaction with the government’s response to their demands.

Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from Cape Town city centre, said at least one student was injured during the confrontation.

«The students kept coming back. They are refusing to leave. They kept hiding between the shops,» she said.

«They are adamant and they say they want free education even if the government keeps saying it cannot afford to pay.»

Protesters said they want free university education to help close South Africa’s inequality gap.

Police called on the protesters to leave immediately and return to school «because they are disrupting business», our correspondent said.

«These are scenes that the government does not want to see in the city of Cape Town. It’s a tourist destination. It’s the last thing they want to see.

«But students are saying, ‘our parents cannot afford the tuition. So how can you expect us to continue [university]?'»

In a speech on Wednesday, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan promised additional funding for higher education in his speech, while calling for the «violence to stop».

He promised to cap the tuition fees for 2017.

Violent protests began last year putting the government under pressure to fund free tertiary education.

Many black students say they come from poor families, and fee increases will rob them of the opportunity to continue studying.

South Africa’s economy is struggling. Although it has regained the title of Africa’s largest economy from Nigeria, it could be on the brink of recession. It barely escaped a rating agencies downgrade to junk status recently.

It is rich in mineral resources, but mining production fell 0.2 percent year-on-year in August and farmers are suffering from the worst drought in more than a century.

The International Monetary Fund said corruption in South Africa is holding the economy back.

Fuente: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/clashes-cape-town-students-demand-free-tuition-161026134326852.html

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South Africa: Roadmap needed to finance higher education

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África/Sudáfrica/30 Octubre 2016/Fuente: /Autor:

Resumen: Se necesita una hoja de ruta para financiar los gastos de estudio de los estudiantes pobres y de clase de trabajo para hacer frente a las tasas universitarias en curso protestas en todo el país, dijo el miércoles el gobierno.

A roadmap to finance the study costs of poor and working class students is needed to address the ongoing university fees protests across the country, government said on Wednesday.

«A roadmap is needed to fully finance the costs of study for students from poor and working-class families. The plan needs to consider the impact of different education interventions to maximise social and economic transformation,» said government in its 2016 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) tabled by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Minister Gordhan, who tabled the MTBPS in Parliament, said university education benefits society and it also improves graduates’ income and employment prospects.

The Minister said universities and students will receive an additional R17 billion over the term – R9 billion for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme over the period ahead and over R8 billion to meet the costs of fee increases for students from households with incomes up to R600 000.

In his maiden MTBPS since returning to the National Treasury portfolio, Minister Gordhan said the «fees must fall» movement by university students has placed the issue of education funding at the centre of the policy debate.

«It has also generated welcome suggestions on how to fund tertiary education,» noted the document.

The 2016 MTBPS which is also dubbed as the mini budget proposes to accelerate the growth of spending on post-school education. Despite fiscal constraints, subsidies to universities grow at 10.9 % each year and transfers to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) grow at 18.5 %.

In the 2016 Budget, R5.7 billion was added to university subsidies to fund the zero percent fee increase for the 2016 academic year, while the NSFAS received additional funding of R10.6 billion over the MTEF period.

However, students across the country have continued their protests across various universities, calling for free higher education, despite the announcement by Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande. Minister Nzimande at a briefing last month said universities could increase fees by no more than 8%.

«In the 2017 Budget, government will fund the increase in fees at higher learning institutions for the 2017 academic year up to a maximum of 8% for students from households earning up to R600 000 per year,» said the MTBPS on Wednesday.

Speaking at a media briefing ahead of tabling the country’s 20th MTBPS, Minister Gordhan said concerns were raised by students.

«We hear them absolutely clearly. There’s no room for violence in any form. The objective is to ensure that people have access [to higher education] and become a dynamic part to our economy,» said Minister Gordhan.

He stressed that government is listening to students. «This is not a government that is not listening.»

Adding to the Minister’s comments, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Jeff Radebe said that the task team set up to look into the matter is seized with bringing about normalcy to higher education institutions. «We need to protect the future of our children,» said Minister Radebe.

Speaking at the same briefing, Minister Nzimande said the country needs to expand its colleges and that the country is facing a shortage of mid level skills.

Over the past five years, expenditure on post-school education and training has grown much faster than other budgets.

Allocations have increased from 1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008 to 1.5 % today. Most of this increase benefited vocational colleges, sector education and training authorities and the National Skills Fund, rather than universities.

«Building on the successful expansion of access to higher education, government acknowledges the need to correct its course and increase the number of graduates, while improving teaching and research,» said Minister Gordhan.

The mini budget said those who go on to become affluent citizens have a responsibility to contribute a share of these gains to the next generation.

«In higher education, as in all areas of public policy, decisions and trade-offs are required to ensure balanced, sustainable development that meets the vast needs of the population using available resources.»

Added to that, government is working to expand post school education and training to produce a larger pool of mid to high level skills as envisioned in the National Development Plan.

Improving learner throughput rates by developing teaching and learning support plans for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges is a priority.

The colleges will receive support to refurbish workshop facilities and to obtain equipment and protective gear for practical training. Training for artisans will be expanded while community education and training will receive support.

Fuente de la noticia: http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/roadmap-needed-finance-higher-education

Fuente de la imagen: http://www.cnbcafrica.com/ImageGen.ashx?image=/media/18941608/gordhan__flickr.jpg&crop=resize&height=425&Compression=75&width=73

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Sector leaders back income-contingent loans for South Africa

Noticias

África/Sudáfrica/Octubre de 2016/Autor: Chris Havergal/Fuente: Times Higher Education

RESUMEN: Mientras los manifestantes estudiantiles de Sudáfrica están llamando a la educación superior universal y gratuita, si esto podría ser acordada por el gobierno del país es dudosa. Existe un reconocimiento generalizado de que la matrícula debe ser gratuita para las familias más pobres, pero, ya que el país sigue siendo agarrado por una crisis económica, los líderes del sector creen que la introducción de préstamos supeditados a los ingresos garantizados por el gobierno es una solución más viable para la mayoría. «La demanda es ‘educación superior gratuita ahora’; así ¿qué pasa con la salud, ¿qué pasa con la educación básica, ¿qué pasa con la vivienda, ¿qué pasa con los subsidios sociales? Estas son las conversaciones que tendrá que tener acerca de dónde es el lugar adecuado para la educación superior en eso «, dijo Wim de Villiers, rector de la Universidad de Stellenbosch. «Con la situación económica actual y la restricción financiera del gobierno está bajo, no puede prever que la educación superior gratuita podría ser una recomendación implementable.»

While South Africa’s student protesters are calling for universal free higher education, whether this could be afforded by the country’s government is doubtful.

There is widespread acknowledgement that tuition should be free for the poorest families but, as the country remains gripped by an economic crisis, sector leaders believe that the introduction of government-backed income-contingent loans is a more viable solution for the majority.

“The demand is ‘free higher education now’; well what about health, what about basic education, what about housing, what about social grants? These are the conversations we will need to have about where the right place is for higher education in that,” said Wim de Villiers, vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University. “With the current economic climate and the financial restraint the government is under, I cannot foresee that free higher education could be an implementable recommendation.”

Many in South Africa argue that it is right that students who can afford to pay for their own university tuition should make a contribution. The question is, however, whether this would be acceptable to a protest movement that appears to retain the sympathy of students.

Martin Hall, emeritus professor in the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, highlighted that free higher education meant very different things to different people. Currently, fees in the country have to be paid up front and students with outstanding debts are unable to graduate. A graduate tax or income-contingent loan repayment system would be much more palatable, he suggested.

“There will always be students who won’t accept these solutions, but I think if there was a solution where there was a combination of bursaries and income-contingent loans, that would actually meet a very significant proportion of student demand to the extent that it could quieten the system down,” Professor Hall said.

The other question is whether a South African government, which too often seems unable to provide the solutions that the country needs, is actually capable of delivering such a system.

Belinda Bozzoli, the former deputy vice-chancellor (research) of the University of the Witwatersrand and the opposition Democratic Alliance’s shadow higher education minister, said that there were some in the ruling African National Congress who “don’t care a fig about universities”, although others were more understanding.

“What can be afforded by the government isn’t very big, and whether it is a priority for the state is not clear,” she said.

For those reasons many also see an important role for the private sector in South African student finance, perhaps providing the loans under direction from ministers.

Meanwhile, others believe that the current crisis should provide the impetus to rethink the funding of the country’s higher education system more fundamentally.

Cheryl de la Rey, vice-chancellor of the University of Pretoria, argued that some institutions should focus on undergraduate education, while others should be supported to maintain their excellence in research and postgraduate tuition.

“I see this as a defining moment for the future of higher education in South Africa,” she said. “I really think it is time for us to think about a national system that is differentiated.”

Fuente: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/sector-leaders-back-income-contingent-loans-south-africa

 

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Sugieren diálogo para resolver crisis en universidades sudafricanas

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África/Sudáfrica/29 Octubre 2016/Fuente: Prensa Latina

La crisis que atraviesan hoy las universidades de Sudáfrica, escenario de continuas protestas hace más de un mes, tendrá que resolverse mediante el diálogo constructivo, según opinan aquí algunos expertos.
Para el presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, Mogoeng Mogoeng, esa es la salida para lograr una solución duradera, en particular ante los riesgos de que los estudiantes pierdan en lo inmediato el actual año académico.

‘Si condenamos a los estudiantes desde lejos, sin ningún compromiso significativo, solo podemos endurecer sus actitudes’, expresó el juez, citado en medios locales.

El jefe de Justicia, quien participó anoche en Johannesburgo en la conferencia anual dedicada a Oliver Tambo, reconoció que las demandas de los manifestantes del movimiento #FeesMustFall son genuinas.

Ningún estudiante debe ser impedido de acceder a la educación superior solo porque sus padres no pueden pagar las tasas de matrícula, dijo Mogoeng.

Es hora de escuchar, acotó el magistrado al expresar su rechazo a la destrucción y daños a la infraestructura en las universidades. No queremos que se quemen las instituciones, subrayó.

Las máximas autoridades de Sudáfrica coinciden en lo legítimo de las protestas por el logro de una educación gratuita, pero desaprueban de forma enérgica la violencia que las acompañan.

Un reporte del canal SABC divulgó que al menos 25 estudiantes de la Universidad de Western Cape (UWC) comparecerán ante la Corte de Bellville este viernes en busca de una fianza.

Los implicados fueron acusados de violencia pública luego de los enfrentamientos con la policía en el campus hace más de una semana.

Las movilizaciones, que dejaron ya el saldo lamentable de dos muertes asociadas, comenzaron a partir del anuncio el 19 de septiembre del eventual incremento de las tasas de matrícula en las universidades públicas del país en 2017.

El ministro de Educación Superior, Blade Nzimande, puntualizó en aquel momento que el alza de los tributos sería hasta el tope de ocho por ciento y que era una responsabilidad individual de cada una de las instituciones decidirla.

Al mismo tiempo aclaró que de la medida se exceptuaban los jóvenes de familias menos favorecidas y que reciben ayuda del gobierno.

El gobernante partido Congreso Nacional Africano (ANC) reiteró en un comunicado su compromiso con lograr una educación gratuita y de calidad en un futuro no lejano, algo en lo que considera se han dado pasos.

Una generalización del movimiento #FeesMustFall, hizo que el presidente Jacob Zuma decretara el ‘cero aumento’ de las cuotas en 2016.

El ministro Nzimande considera que detrás de estas protestas hay, sin dudas, una agenda política.

Fuente: http://prensa-latina.cu/index.php?o=rn&id=37413&SEO=sugieren-dialogo-para-resolver-crisis-en-universidades-sudafricanas
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Sudáfrica: More cash for education after #FeesMustFall

Noticias

África/Sudáfrica/Octubre de 2016/Autor: Nicola Mawson/Fuente: IOL

RESUMEN: El Ministro de Finanzas Pravin Gordhan esta cambiando dinero por la educación y la formación en la escuela, a pesar del entorno fiscal restrictivo en el que se encuentra Sudáfrica. El ministro presentó en el Parlamento el miércoles la política de presupuesto en la Declaración de Mediano Plazo, reconoció que el movimiento de estudiantes universitarios que exigen que las «cuotas deben caer» ha colocado el tema de la financiación de la educación en el centro del debate político. También ha generado sugerencias de bienvenida sobre la forma de financiar la educación superior «. La campaña #FeesMustFall, que comenzó justo antes del examen 2015, tomó impulso este año, con muchas protestas que se  tornaron violentas en los campus de todo el país. El Servicio de Policía de Sudáfrica también fue acusado de ser demasiado excesivo en el uso de la fuerza para reprimir las manifestaciones.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is shifting more money to post school education and training, despite the tight fiscal environment South Africa finds itself in.

The minister – presenting the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament on Wednesday, acknowledged that the movement of university students demanding “fees must fall” has placed the issue of education funding at the centre of the policy debate.

“It has also generated welcome suggestions on how to fund tertiary education.”

The #FeesMustFall campaign, which kicked off just before the 2015 examination round started, gathered momentum this year, with many protests turning violent at campuses across the country. The South African Police Service was also accused of being overly excessive in its use of force to quell the demonstrations.

Gordhan says, in documents tabled for the budget vote, that the so-called mini budget will accelerate growth of spending on post-school education, with subsidies to universities growing at 10.9 percent a year, while transfers to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme growing at 18.5 percent a year.

In 2016, the entire post-school sector received R68 billion in funding, of which R11.42 went to NSFAS and R28 billion in allocations to universities. These figures will now be grown at an expanded rate, as government usually increases allocations in line with inflation.

Government proposes an additional R17.6 billion to post-school education and training in the 2017 budget. Total allocations to these institutions over the medium term grow at 11 per cent each year, National Treasury’s documents show.

Gordhan also noted that, over the past five years, spending on education and training has grown much faster than other budgets – growing from a percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008 to 1.5 percent.

Spending on education also increased because of the agreement to not impose an increase on fees in 2016, and the 8 percent cap on next year’s fees, with the poor and missing middle benefitting from government funding the hike in fees.

However, says Gordhan, there are two concerns at the heart of the #FeesMustFall. He says, despite allocations to the NSFAS growing dramatically, the enrolment of academically deserving students from poor communities has grown faster than available funding.

In addition, says Gordhan, there is no clear national framework for financing students who – although not affluent – are above the modest threshold established by the NSFAS means test. “As a result, many students face financial hardships that undermine their ability to succeed academically.”

Overcrowding at universities

Addressing the media on Tuesday, statician-general Pali Lehola said overcrowding was a major problem at universities, which had almost a million students across 26 universities, and only capacity for 500 000. In addition, he said 300 000 students should not be enrolled because they would not complete in time, and would push the overall cost to universities of providing education higher.

Gordhan also notes that government’s priorities in the years ahead are to expand access to and the quality of early childhood development, overcome institutional weaknesses in basic education, broaden access to effective vocational and technical skills, and improve the impact of resources devoted to vocational training. “In all these areas, additional resources may be needed – and strong interventions to unblock institutional constraints are required.”

Fuente: http://www.iol.co.za/business/budget/more-cash-for-education-after-feesmustfall-2083914

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Sudáfrica: a propósito de universidades y desempleo juvenil

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Sudáfrica/27 octubre 2016/Autora: Deisy Francis Mexidor /Fuente: Prensa Latina

Aún queda mucho por hacer para lograr la financiación de la educación superior y eliminar el flagelo del desempleo juvenil que persiste hoy en Sudáfrica.

Esos son puntos de vista compartidos por jóvenes, a propósito del informe que presentará este miércoles en el Parlamento el ministro de Finanzas, Pravin Gordhan, sobre una evaluación intermedia del presupuesto del actual año.

Hay expectativas en medios locales. El país ha experimentado una ola de violentas protestas estudiantiles desde hace más de un mes en contra de un eventual incremento de las cuotas de ingreso a las universidades en 2017.

Las movilizaciones del #FeesMustFall (los impuestos deben caer) han resultado en la destrucción de la infraestructura en varias instituciones terciarias, hecho que recibe aquí la condena y rechazo del gobierno.

Entrevistado por el canal SABC, el estudiante de segundo año de Contabilidad en la Universidad de Johannesburgo, Bongimuzi Ntuli, dijo que el discurso sobre el presupuesto ‘debe abordar el estancamiento de la educación superior’.

Mientras Lesego Mokale subrayó que la educación en general necesita mayores fondos, porque ‘celebramos dos décadas de democracia’, pero todavía hay una carencia importante desde la enseñanza básica hasta la superior.

Para Mokale otra de las preocupaciones es el tema del desempleo entre los jóvenes en un contexto donde más del 25 por ciento de la población económicamente activa de Sudáfrica se encuentra desocupada.

Pese a los planes y programas que ha implementado el gobierno del Congreso Nacional Africano (ANC), una encuesta realizada por Stadistics SA, el paro entre los ciudadanos de 15 a 34 años aumentó de un 32,7 por ciento a un 36,1 de 2008 a 2014.

Según el presidente de la Comisión Justicia y Paz de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Sudáfrica, monseñor Abel Gabuza, el desempleo juvenil sigue constituyendo un peligro para ‘la seguridad de nuestra nación y para la estabilidad de la vida de nuestra familia’.

Es una bomba de relojería que podría ‘explotar pronto entre nosotros’, enfatizó Gabuza en una declaración que hiciera en ocasión de las festividades del pasado 1 de mayo.

Mientras, en algunas universidades se mantienen los disturbios, lo que compromete seriamente el programa académico, de acuerdo con autoridades docentes.

Hay reportes de que en la Universidad de Ciudad del Cabo (UCT), los estudiantes se han distanciado de la quema durante la noche de cuatro vehículos en uno de los campus.

Los estudiantes de la Universidad Metropolitana Nelson Mandela, en Port Elizabeth, hicieron en una marcha pacífica para entregar un memorando con sus demandas.

Por otra parte, en la Universidad de Rhodes hubo al menos cuatro alumnos detenidos, presuntamente por causar daños a la propiedad en Grahamstown.

La violencia escaló anoche en Braamfontein, el centro de la ciudad de Johannesburgo, cuando grupos de manifestantes apedrearon vehículos y le prendieron fuego a un carro de la policía.

Desde su comienzo, las protestas dejaron el saldo lamentable de dos muertes. Un trabajador de la seguridad de la Universidad de Wits falleció por causas relacionadas con estos hechos y hace una semana Benjamin Lesego, uno de los líderes estudiantiles en la Universidad Tecnológica de Tshwane, perdió la vida trágicamente al ser atropellado por un vehículo.

Luego del anuncio del 19 de septiembre, el ministro de Educación Superior, Blade Nzimande, advirtió que detrás del escenario alrededor de las protestas hay, sin dudas, una agenda política.

Nzimande puntualizó en aquel momento que el alza de los tributos sería hasta el tope de ocho por ciento y que era una responsabilidad individual de cada una de las instituciones decidirlas, pero aclaró que de la medida se exceptuaban los jóvenes de familias menos favorecidas.

El ANC reiteró en un comunicado reciente su compromiso con lograr una educación gratuita y de calidad en un futuro no lejano, algo en lo que considera se han dado pasos.

Una generalización del movimiento #FeesMustFall, hizo que el presidente Jacob Zuma decretara el ‘cero aumento’ de las cuotas en 2016.

Fuente: http://prensa-latina.cu/index.php?o=rn&id=36795&SEO=sudafrica-a-proposito-de-universidades-y-desempleo-juvenil
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