THERE’S A STRONG NEED FOR A UNIVERSITY IN EKURHULENI
IT’S a well-known fact that there are far too few university places available to potential students in Gauteng.
According to a recent internet press report (Media24, if I remember correctly), 36 843 Gauteng learners got university entrance passes in the 2014 matric examinations.
If one multiplies by 0.75 and 4 to arrive at an estimate of the number of student places at traditional universities required for a similar number of successful people who study for a four-year period on average, it means that 110 529 student places will be required in Gauteng’s traditional universities (for example, Wits and Tukkies) to cater for the 36 843 successful learners.
Ekurhuleni has about a quarter of the residents of Gauteng. If one multiplies 110 529 by 0.25, one arrives at an estimated number of traditional university student places required in Ekurhuleni of 27 632. (Ekurhuleni has a history of generating good matric examination results.)
In view of the character of Ekurhuleni, one would expect the ratio of university of technology students to traditional university students in the metropolitan area to be relatively high. If one assumes that it would be 0.85 times the above-mentioned estimate, this means 23 487 university of technology students.
If the two estimates of student numbers are combined to arrive at an estimated student size requirement for a comprehensive university (for example, the University of Johannesburg and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), one arrives at a student number to be catered for of 51 119.
Because of Ekurhuleni’s strategic location in relation to the transportation system, one would expect a large number of students from outside Gauteng to want comprehensive university study opportunities in Ekurhuleni.
There is clearly a strong case for the rapid provision of a comprehensive university in the Boksburg-Benoni-Brakpan area in Ekurhuleni. This should be followed in the fairly near future by a second and third campus in the Kempton Park-Tembisa and Alberton-Kathorus sections of Ekurhuleni.
It would be logical given the large potential student population in the east-west development area of Ekurhuleni for a fourth campus with a medical or medical and dental school linked to an expanded and upgraded Far East Rand Hospital, of the recommended multi-campus, comprehensive University of Ekurhuleni to be added to the three campuses.
The recommended Boksburg-Benoni-Brakpan campus should have a graduate school for business management as soon as possible.
The fact that Ekurhuleni is the most important transportation hub in South Africa, and is one of the most important locations of manufacturing industry in Africa, as well as the fact that it has considerable economic development potential, adds to the validity of the arguments as argued above.
It is in South Africa’s best interest that the apartheid-related problem of the almost complete absence of university facilities in Ekurhuleni be rectified as soon as possible. (There is limited provision by the Vaal University of Technology, and limited private-sector, Unisa-related provision.)
There are various high-quality, multi-campus universities in the world, including the University of Toronto and the University of California.
Peter F Behrmann Professional urban and regional planner
GAUTENG’S digital learning plans must be handled with caution.
Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi announced a R17-billion five-year plan that will see all learners in Gauteng using tablets as their tools of learning. This, of course, does not mean that textbooks will be a thing of the past – they will be used as back-up in times of crisis, such as when Eskom comes into play through load shedding.
This is, indeed, good news, especially to learners who haven’t been exposed to this kind of technology. It shows that as a country we are moving forward in the area of education.
What is even better about it is that the tablets will be programmed for educational purposes only. This will prevent learners spending time on entertainment rather than their lessons.
However, I think the government has not handled this matter with caution.
To allow students to take their tablets is not a good idea and I don’t agree with the authorities in this regard. My concern is that this will put the learners’ lives in danger. Criminals will target learners as they will be aware that learners are in I READ with amazement that the Gauteng education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, plans to make the Boitumelo Secondary School in Tembisa a digital school.
There will be electronic tablets, internet access, e-mail and SMS interaction between pupils and teachers after hours.
I am not impressed, and I think the following will happen: the pupils of Boitumelo will most likely spend most of the time scrolling the internet for pornographic films.
They will become experts on porn and other internet services like meeting total strangers and downloading music by the vulgar Eminem.
The thugs in Tembisa are probably waiting for the digitalisation with glee. They will have a field day stealing the digital infrastracture and robbing pupils of their tablets.
There is going to be e-mail and SMS communication between pupils and teachers after hours. My word!
The number of pregnant pupils will increase, Panyaza. And they will be impregnated by their teachers. The divorce rate of the teachers will, as a consequence, also increase. The teachers’ partners CLIFF Saunders is taking liberties with the facts when he claims my “endorsement” of his interview with PW Botha (Letters to the Editor, January 10).
Some years ago, I politely refused to join his campaign to force the SABC to run the interview. Only a seasoned propagandist could twist this into an endorsement.
I was horrified last week to find my name among his coterie of apartheid apologists and wish to make it clear that I have no time for Mr Saunders or his tired acts of necrophilia.
Anton Harber Chair, Freedom of Expression Institute
THE report last Saturday (January 10) that Randburg priest Georg Kerkhoff has been arraigned in court in Germany refers.
It is good that Kerkhoff is being tried for his offences against boys in Germany, but a pity he has escaped trial here in South Africa for similar offences.
The bishop who shipped him out to Randburg should be dethroned for such cynical behaviour.
M Bruce Parktown