‘Don’t let students become collateral damage’

Dr Sizwe Mabizela is the vice-chancellor at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

Dr Sizwe Mabizela is the vice-chancellor at Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

Published Sep 29, 2016

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Johannesburg – Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Sizwe Mabizela, on Thursday pleaded with government to provide funding for the immediate implementation of free quality higher education for the poor, saying that students should not become ‘collateral damage’.

This comes after violent clashed between police and students erupted at the university on a day when the academic programme was supposed to resume after it was suspended a week ago.

At least 11 students were arrested and three injured at the university in Grahamstown on Wednesday as a protest over fees descended in chaos and violence.

In a heartfelt letter addressed to parents, alumni, donors and funders of the university on Thursday, Mabizela said the university was “disturbed by the video footage” of police brutality, and promised to engage the SA Police Services around their handling of the situation.

Mabizela said since the start of disruptions of the academic activities on Tuesday last week, numerous e-mail messages from students, academic and support staff and parents have been received, all anxious and concerned about events on campus.

“Many students are rightly worried that the disturbances on campus might seriously jeopardise their future as they cannot afford to have an academic year wasted,” Mabizela said.

“Many have overcome significant hurdles to reach this stage of their academic and personal development.”

Mabizela said the majority of Rhodes University students and staff support the cause of achieving quality free education for the poor and adequate funding for higher education system, but disagree with the approach taken by the protesting students.

“Rhodes University cannot have students become nothing more than ‘collateral damage’. We cannot make their hopes, dreams and aspirations inconsequential or disposable. We cannot fail them; we dare not fail them,” Mabizela said.

“I have appealed to everyone’s good sense that we do all we can to ensure a successful completion of the 2016 academic year.”

Earlier this week, Mabizela had warned students that continued instability on campus as a result of #FeesMustFall protests may result in the closure of the institution for the rest of the year and pleaded with them to “think hard” about their actions.

On Thursday, Mabizela said the leadership of our university remained “deeply committed” to engagements with all university constituencies who are committed to making the academic project a success.

He also reiterated the university’s “unambiguous collective position” on the issue of funding of public higher education and access to quality higher education.

“First, we stand united with our students in urging our government and the private sector to provide funding so that every academically deserving student is afforded a fair opportunity to access quality higher education.

“In particular, we support the call for the immediate implementation of free quality higher education for the poor,” Mabizela said.

“Second, we call on our Government and private sector to support our public higher education system adequately to maintain quality in our public higher education and with a view to lessening the burden of tuition fees from struggling parents.”

Mabizela concluded by saying that Rhodes University remained committed to ensuring that it continued to offer a quality education while ensuring that academically deserving students were not excluded for financial reasons.

African News Agency

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