A word on the country’s student leadership

The gist and implied connotations of my article this week are directed at our student structures countrywide - EFF Student Command, Sasco and Cosas. Most student organisations do not add any substantive value to the discourse of academic advancement at our institutions of learning.

Anarchy, subversive dogmas and destructive protests have penetrated deeper into the functional existence of student movements. The election of student leaders is no longer modelled on academic excellence and ethical decorum.

Students who heckle, howl and shout the loudest are often much favoured during the SRC elections.

Worse even, is that most student protests at universities and colleges are mysteriously led by non-students. Non-students must not be allowed to hijack, manipulate and (mis)lead student protests. Student protests that eventually mutate into destructive anarchy and vandalism are usually led by some unknown faceless charlatans. Management at universities and colleges must urgently review SRC constitutions and bar non-students from partaking in student politics. Consequently, the concept of student leadership stands in grave contradiction to the advancement of education. Anti-education student leaders are, unfortunately, in full command of the fate and future of their respective universities or colleges. Student politics is ideally designed to bring communal advancement to the discourse of learning and teaching at educational institutions.

The quality of student politics has an impact on the academic and intellectual prestige of that university or college. The prime purpose of student politics is to strive for access, equality and quality in the mainstream of education.

Access to quality education, intellectual scholarship and research outputs are the foremost obligation of an educational institution. Student leaders are expected to function and align their political thinking within that pedagogic context.

Student leaders must contribute to the advancement and prosperity of their institutions.

Unfortunately, most student leaders are notoriously accountable for the wanton destruction, vandalism and paralysis of their respective campuses. During strikes, the torching of schools and lecture halls are mostly instigated by anti-education anarchists.

Colleges and universities must craft the Statutes of Student Governance that shall align student politics with academic excellence. Student leaders must strive for educational enlightenment, and not anarchy and mayhem.