The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN) calls on higher education institutions to work hand in glove with student organisations to categorise needy students from highly disadvantaged backgrounds.
The HETN believes that the poor and disadvantaged students should be given discounts on buses, trains and taxis, but also in food outlets as the cost of living is high.
The HETN has noticed that some of the disadvantaged students spend a lot of time away from their families and loved ones due to exorbitant bus and train tickets.
The reduction of costs for such students will surely help minimise the gap between students and their families, especially when institutions are on vacation.
The HETN has learnt that there are students who end up squatting in areas next to their universities as they are unable to raise enough money to go home. Others are forced to use lifts from unidentified motorists, thus endangering their lives as they cannot afford to buy a bus ticket.
The problem of exorbitant transport fees does not only affect students who come from afar. There are also students who live about 60km away from a university and, due to unaffordable transport fees, they sometimes find themselves with no choice but to skip classes – in the process hindering their academic progress.
Some students have to wake up very early to catch a bus or train in order to be early for classes, but in the process they put their lives at risk as they sometimes leave at 4am when it is still dark outside.
The HETN has received reports that some of the poor students often find themselves studying with divided attention as they are not sure whether they will reach home safely after attending their classes, as they have to wait and take the last train with the hope that they will board for free as most Metrorail officials have already knocked off by that time – thus creating an enabling environment for students to pass the Metrorail gates with ease.
We call upon Translux and Metrorail to prioritise such students by giving them reasonable discounts as the majority of them rely solely on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
We want to reaffirm our lack of confidence in the Universities South Africa (USA), a structure that represents vice-chancellors in all 26 universities.
The USA continues to fail students as it does not have any tangible plan to eradicate challenges faced by the higher education sector. It is very disturbing that university managers are not proactive in their daily approach to issues affecting students.
The HETN appeals to the Department of Higher Education and Training to collaborate with transport companies such as Translux and Metrorail to make student discounts possible.
We have equally learnt that in the Australian state of New South Wales, international students are not entitled to transport discounts.
However, tertiary institutions now offer discounts which enable students to save up to 35% on the cost of travel on buses, trains, light rail and other forms of transport throughout Greater Sydney. Our universities can learn from tertiary institutions in Australia and do what is best for our students here at home.
The HETN is looking forward to the day when all students shall travel safely on buses and trains without putting their lives at risk.
Lifts from unknown motorists must become a choice for our students and not a must.
Hendrick Makaneta
HETN National Spokesperson