October 21
The Fees Must Fall movement calls for free, decolonized
education. At this point in time, the South African government claims it simply
cannot afford to make higher education free for all students. Does this mean
they also cant afford to decolonize their campuses? I am beginning to wonder
how the South African government will be able to appease protesters and address
the roots of their struggles if they cannot afford to subsidize education. The
head of the treasury blames rising inflation and decreased funding for their
unwillingness to eliminate the fees, but students refuse to except that excuse.
The government has been trying to implement temporary solutions such as
promising to subsidize fees for students in the financial aid program and the
middle class students that don’t qualify for financial aid, but these solutions
don’t get at the bigger issues surrounding the protests. This article from the
New Yorker is written by Rosa Lyster, a student at the University of Cape Town
where some of the biggest protests are taking place. She was there when they removed the statue of
Cecil Rhodes, the infamous British mining magnate who represented imperialism
and white supremacy. She says that while the removal of that statue was an
important feet, the institution at which it once stood is not as easy to
topple.
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