The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has for years been sharply raising structural challenges in the post-schooling and training sector. The student’s homelessness, infrastructural backlogs, curriculum transformation and ICT development remain a crisis and a snail pace of transformation in our TVET Colleges and historically disadvantaged institutions have been exposed further by the outbreak of covid-19.
SASCO rejects any academic year recovery plan that will perpetuate the very evident inequalities in our sector or posture for the residual exclusion of poor students in the sector. The poor should at no stage find themselves being crucified because of the circumstances they were born into and continue to find themselves in because of the snail pace of service delivery.
In line with the above posture, as an organisation, we reject any gravitation towards the rapid migration to online learning until and unless we have systems that will ensure that poor students are not isolated, dejected and an afterthought. The arrogant progression of some institutions with online learning has shown the death of consciousness and market interest deeply ingrained in some of our university executives. As such the organization will be approaching the court to interdict any further role out of online teaching and learning.
Our core principle remains that all students are given an equal opportunity to participate in the learning process. No roll-out of e-learning processes until digital equity is addressed for the means to study and learn, with particular care given to resourcing historically disadvantaged institutions should be condoned. Solutions must be guided by the circumstances of students with the least access and security.
SASCO believes that the sector is not sufficiently prepared to present any cogent recovery plan without firstly, putting students at grave risk and secondly, sacrificing the poor at the altar of privilege. The constant postponement of media briefings by the department is a testament to this.
There are logical challenges to any implementation plan:
• There is a huge lack of capacity from Previously Disadvantaged Institutions to procure and distribute devices that will enable full participation in online learning platforms.
• Current online learning platforms indicate very low participation in those institutions that have arrogantly proceeded with online learning.
• Re-opening contact classes put students at risk of exposure.
• TVET colleges have system inefficiencies that do not enable contact or online learning.
• No study has been conducted on the impact of online learning on the curriculum and qualification accreditation.
SASCO will only agree to the migration to online learning when the following demands are adhered to:
1. Adequate Investment into ICT Infrastructure across Higher Education. (With the understanding that e-learning is the inevitable future).
2. Provision for the students who won’t cope with the e-Learning to deregister without incurring costs and exclusions.
3. A clear resolution around anti-exclusion by institutions of higher learning (academic) and assurance of funding and policy deviation by NSFAS.
4. Mixed methodology strategy that is not aimed at the alienation of student based on their class origin.
5. Allow students who wish to return to their residences in order for them to gain access to necessary resources to do so.
6. Provide conducive alternative accommodation for TVET Colleges Students.
7. An inclusive Academic Calendar for ALL.
We believe that our rights are equal and so are our lives, therefore if the plan by the department is to take everyone back to their residences in October 2020 then let all students be subjected to social pedagogies until that time. An Injury to one is an injury to all; SASCO vehemently opposes the creation of a separate academic year for the poor which will start in October with the rich and privileged being allowed to continue now.
We call on the Ministry of Higher Education to for once be found in defence of the poor by being decisive in ensuring a single co-ordinated Higher Education sector that is inclusive and not simply bend over backwards to please the so-called “Ivy Leagues” by gambling with the future of the disenfranchised majority.
Issued by SASCO NEC
Bamanye Matiwane
President ~ SASCO
president@sasco.co.za
Buthanani Ngwane
Secretary General ~ SASCO
sg@sasco.co.za
For Enquiries
Luvuyo Barnes
Media & Communication Liaison
SASCO
079 393 7131