The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has noted with regret and utter dismay the intentions of government to give students a choice between receiving laptops or receiving money in their bank accounts. As an organisation we hold a strong view that this will land us into more wasted public funds and not address the problem at hand as many students will opt for money rather than receiving a gadget. It appears that the department of higher education and training tried to create an impression that the procurement process was necessary and as a result the distribution of gadgets was delayed as early as the first wave of COVID-19.
We call on government to give students what is due to them which is Laptops. For years now as an organisation we called for “One Student, One Laptop” and this is a generational call which we won’t betray. The sudden multiple choice between Book Allowance, Money and Laptop is nothing but a delay tactic which won’t distract us from the end goal.
The ANC led Government further proves us right that education is not part of their apex priorities. Looting of state resources by every means necessary including not limited to issuing multiple tenders is their number one priority on the contrary. No sane person in a country like South Africa where Unemployment and Socio-Economic conditions are so dire can make students choose between receiving Money or Laptops, because their socio-economic conditions will automatically dictate that money will be the obvious choice. The Land claims should have been a lesson to our government.
We therefore unequivocally call on NSFAS and DHET to give Students Laptops as per their commitment because we understand that the Tender was for Laptops not for Money Distribution or Students Multiple Choice.
Book Allowances have always been distributed in a particular manner and are a compulsory component of learning and teaching. Allowing students to make a choice is therefore disingenuous and will not aid in attaining Academic Excellence.
It is crucial that the government takes into cognisance the looming COVID-19 third wave. This period will further disadvantage the already marginalized poor students from working class background who will be plunged into online learning with no access to gadgets/study material. It is quite shocking that a government that should be preoccupied with changing the status quo is the same government that is responsible for entrenching unequal socio-economic realities in higher education. The first wave of this pandemic and its devastating effects should be a point of reference for the government when making decisions of this nature in future.
Issued by SASCO NEC
Bamanye Matiwane
President
Or
Buthanani Thobela
Secretary General
073 257 5677
sg@sasco.co.za
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Luvuyo Barnes
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079 393 7131
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