I don’t wish to sound alarmist, but the journey ahead for young matriculants appears perilous, writes Dennis Pather.
As you sip your favourite herbal tea or beverage this Sunday afternoon, spare a thought for the hundreds of thousands of young matriculants who’ll be venturing into unknown territory this year.
I don’t wish to sound alarmist, but the journey appears perilous.
If government and education officials don’t get off their backsides and act boldly soon, we will be on the brink of a catastrophic education crisis that’s likely to set us back many years. Another lost generation.
The first threat will come when thousands of starry-eyed young men and women venture to universities and technikons for the first time.
They may be young, but they’re not naive. They read newspapers and their iPads and keep abreast with what has been happening on campuses in recent months.They’ve seen the scenes of anarchy and wanton destruction and realise it can be a jungle out there.
“All I want is an opportunity to study and broaden my knowledge and skills in preparation for a future career, but fear all my hopes could go up in smoke if campus unrest flares up again,” one university hopeful told me.
I wondered what went through her mind when she read the recent interview with UCT student leader Ntokozo Qwabe who vowed student protests would continue this year. That can only mean more class invasions, violence, intimidation and arson.
My second concern is the thousands of pupils who failed matric or squeezed through with poor passes and wish to enrol with private colleges. With few exceptions, most of these colleges are fly-by-night operations run by scammers looking for a quick buck and their diplomas hardly worth the paper they are printed on.
The third, and arguably most depressing, threat comes with news that 265 technical and vocational education and training colleges countrywide may shut.
This is a crippling blow for education because these students are our future skilled workers and artisans critical to economic growth.
Many students are fed up because the education department won’t deal with issues related to weak leadership, corruption, unqualified lecturers and delays in the release of results and certificates.
Nelson Mandela, who often reminded us “education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”, would be turning in his grave.
dennis.pather@telkomsa.net