My 2c worth.

2 good friends of mine moved to NZ with their families because of crime in this country.
Both of them having just finished matric in a Gov school.
In NZ the Gov picks up the bill for all studies etc.
How do they pay for all this? Tax system, each of my mates have now finished varsity and are working and have an additional tax penalty imposed on their salaries for the next 20 years.

Talking to them its such a small tax that they don't really notice this, but it pays for the next generation.

1st world countries out there must have faced this issue of funding students at some point, but if they have found solutions why cant we just follow.

If the 6 Billion rand SAA bailout and the 6 Billion Rand in irregular expenditure was addressed by the very party that keeps being voted into power, then free education and a growing economy would be a reality not a pipe dream.

But yes, lets impose a wealth tax on the rich so that we have more money to waste on Zuma's home and new Jet, that will fix everything.

Students dont need to protest, just use your brain when you get to the polling station.

You cant bitch about corruption and other failures of the current government if you voted for them!

Lets burn down another nine hundred million thousand sixty and four institutions ......

Double

I want to venture that the first year failure rate could even be higher than 45%.

What I can tell you is that the pass rate of students completing their courses in the allocated years is 33%. One in three students will pass within three years.

The extra cost relating to an extra year of studies is astronomical. Ask me. I am one of those priviledged parents to have a super brilliant child that thrives on studying. But wrong skin colour, so cannot get a bursary. So I have to slave extra hours to be able to heep my child at University, getting second job, giving up driving better car, living a lower life standard. Does that make me bitter ? No, I am proud to have such a brillant child. Am I upset that outside factors are hampering her ? For fucking sure. Students are there to study. Not make the situation unbearable for the rest that actually wants to study.

I am willing to wager money that most of those protestors will fall into the "unemployed" and even worse , the "unemployable" category in two months time when the final results come out. My child will get through this, because resilience and determination in the face of this intimidation has made my child a much stronger person.

I have a quite simple solution to the problem, one that was used with great effect on myself. Let the parents look at the videos of the protesters, identify their kids, and then go and explain in no uncertain terms that he/she is there to study and not to protest. And that he/she should be grateful for the opportunity to actually study. I was moered twice if I fucked up in school, once by the teacher, and again at home as soon as my father heard of it. Made me a better person I want to believe.

And spare a thought for the majority of students that want to go to class, because they are writing exams next week, and this last two weeks are crucial for preparation. Now they are sitting at home too scared to venture on to campus.

My frustration levels are super high, mostly because I am following my child's education with pride, and also realising that jobs are not that easy to come by, even if you are as brilliant as my child. And that the more degrees behind your name is one decisive factor that can ensure a better future for my child.

If some of the contributors' children are protesters, kindly go and remove them. My child wants to study.

Please, we as parents can make a difference.

@daporra, I said: black children feel cheated, in response to Ben using the words ungrateful and spoiled. I mentioned reasons why. I can't speak for other races. Last night I put a photo on Instagram with the caption #feesMustFall. Guess which of my followers liked the photo. I'm not playing the race cards (before someone says I am) but let's not sure coat things
Yes on paper, "tertiary education is a privilege to be shared equally" but the footage on TV and photos say otherwise.

Mandela said ..... do to the ANC not do to your country

The problem goes much deeper, the roots are wrong.
Education starts with toddlers... which must be properly prepared up to/for tertiary level.
The massive first-year failing percentage we see just about everywhere means the schooling part of the education system is foul, of course caused by perpetually lowered standards and the fact that doubling a year has been done away with.
Fix THAT and witness a better crowd at the Uni's gates, largely independent of the studycost involved.
So the wide base must be addressed - which will take some doing and loads of money, indeed money which currently falls off the circuit due to corruption.

People, this is not a colour issue, it's an economic one. These kids are not trying to miss exams or too lazy to study, they want/need help! Education cannot be for the rich only, it has to be for all deserving students, especially in a developing country like ours. (FYI, those at university represent the top 5% of a countries population)

I have several degrees, have a fantastic job (which started), I travel the world, and make a load of cash as I result of my education. However, my parents could not afford to send me to university so I knew I had to get a bursary or scholarship, (no family assets for a study loan). I got a scholarship to study, but it only covered tuition, books and accommodation.
Every month I stressed about how I was going to eat. My parents were only able to give me R100 a month - try eating on that. I did part-time jobs, I tutored other student, sold food in res and did want I needed to, to be able to survive. I was under constant money stress and study pressure.

I failed my honours year not because of my lack of brains, but because I had so many odd jobs that I could not study. But I made it thought eventually.

I now support 3 university students every year via scholarship I set up a few years ago. I was hoping to support more students, but these fee increases prevent that. All I am able to do is support 3 students for all their costs. I wish I could do more!

Imagine the potential of this country if these kids were given free education!

Finally, engage with the issues, and think deeply about these before your make silly comments on an anonymous board. Please, don't think that this is a color, age or brains issue, its an economic one!

Check your privilege!

(Yes, I could do more if I stopped punting, but then I could not help great WG's )

@Curt, my sister is a 2nd year student, she turned 19 last month. Who did she vote for because she was underage on the last election. In fact most teriary students, could only vote on the last election and most didnt because of the current government and unfortunately voting for DA is not an option.

Like I said our uncles did this in 1976. They burnt down libraries, supermarkets and bottle stores (some were black owned) fighting to not have Afrikaans as a teaching language. It worked so yeah...a page from the class of 1976 manual even if you dont like it

It must of worked so well as 39 Years latter we still don't have what we need.

from one evil to the next.... that's how well it worked.

No Curt, it worked. No black child in the township is being taught maths in Afrikaans. Hell the only time teachers speak Afrikaans is during an Afrikaans period.
If you work hard you get your medical degree in record time. Dr Motlana spend half his adult life at Wits trying to get one despite his hard work and high IQ

Even with all the flaws we can still identify the good with the ANC. That's why I say voting for the DA is not so sexy. Wed rather talk nicely *picks up a brick* to our uncles at Luthuli house.

Its not all dark and gloom. I live in a flat owned by a white man and I stand in front of a white woman at clicks when I buy condoms and the cashier at the till is a white girl then later I use those condoms on a naked white man :)

Did I mention I dont need any type of permit to do anything in SA? The cANCer said sorry to my mom by giving me citizenship.
The Mrs was probably going to say I've made it this far without one so soldier on