A lot of education to fund before tertiary
THE funding of tertiary education remains a big problem in South Africa and it can’t be resolved by a single magic bullet.
I agree with the funding methods proposed by the EFF in “Yes, we can easily raise the funds for fee-free education” (November 6): the collection and distribution of levies and taxes will help in building quality schools and investing in paying good salaries for our teachers.
Improved payment will lead to improved conditions as unions will have no leg to stand on for nonperforming teachers.
As far as tertiary education goes, I propose that the following funding method be investigated:
Convert the National Student Financial Aid Scheme so that those earning less than R120 000 get fee-free education;
Families with an annual income of up to R300 000 should get fee-free education to cover the missing middle;
Those with a family income of R301 000 to R600 000 should qualify for NSFAS loans;
Those with incomes above R600 000 should pay their own tuition, with bursaries given to highly academically deserving students; and
Private companies should pay through the skills levy for the funding of students mostly in further education and training colleges as they supply the market with necessary skills.
South Africa has competing interests and we can’t be so naive as to believe that funding higher education only will cure all our social challenges.
Let’s allow the funding commission to complete its work and receive its report and, as we always say, maybe take that report for review if it doesn’t give us the desired solutions to our problems. — Sthe Mkhize, Umlazi
Deploy democracy
BESIDES the usual litany of stories about bizarre behaviour in high places, there were definite notes of optimism coming through in last week’s newspaper — of hope for a citizen-led revitalisation of our society.
Then there was the piece by Lebogang Maile, “Hlaudi cloud mustn’t derail cadre policy”, which seemed somewhat incongruent.
After all that South Africans have experienced as a result of “cadre deployment”, can one really believe this policy has a valid place in our democratic, transforming society?
In implementing cadre deployment policies, where only the cadres win the spoils of their decisions and positions, the ANC leadership has shown itself to be more capitalist than communist or Marxist.
The ANC should be focusing on becoming a democratic, citizen-driven (through the ballot box) political party, delivering on its policy and promises, not looking back and viewing itself as some idealistic revolutionary movement.
Taking action, not echoing old doctrines, will transform this country into the democracy it can be. — Desiray Viney, Rondebosch
Meet in the middle
IN response to the article “Some hate their neighbours . . . and some really love them” (November 6), I sense an expectation from some in our suburban white community that BCAs (blacks, coloureds and Asians) should conform in values, culture, norms and behaviour when they move into previously white suburbs.
Specifically, Diwali seems to incur the wrath of animal lovers and our (mainly) non-Hindu neighbours.
I have five dogs and love them like my kids. When I celebrate Diwali, I ensure that they are safe and try to buy fireworks that are colourful rather than loud.
As a Hindu, I would ask my neighbours to give me my two days a year for Diwali and I in turn will try to accommodate them by being considerate in the type of fireworks I employ and how long I let them off for. — Punkaj R Tulsi, Edenvale
Unhappy ending
SEEING the sad, sorry face of “our” president week after week on the front page gives me an overall feeling of the collapse of a once-proud and dynamic government, from the time of Nelson Mandela. I have adopted the method of reading the paper from the back page forward, leaving the worst for last. — Mark, Northern Cape
It could all add up
I AGREE with Andrew Gilfillan’s argument, in “Throwing more pupils at maths won’t make them stick”
No more than a nationalist
YOU should hang your heads in shame for featuring two columns on the opinion page that parrot the US mass media on diametrically opposed presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Both Barney Mthombothi — “Imagine a cocky Trump sizing up his oval office, and cringe” — and Leon Schreiber — “Poll could be game-changer for SA as much as for the US ” — (November 6) were disingenuous because they ignored Clinton’s track record as secretary of state in Obama’s cabinet.
Her campaign was surrounded with scandal — such as destroying e-mails that contained classified information and the Clinton Foundation receiving money from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Calling Trump an “imbecile”, and “running his campaign littered with lies and insults”, Barney, was not (November 6), that pupils who take maths may miss out on the real-life application of it, while those who take maths literacy miss out on the abstract aspects of it.
But I don’t agree with making it even harder to choose which maths to do by adding “key maths”.
Rather than add to the bewilderment, perhaps we should just combine them into one.
When they are tested we can see the true reflection of matriculants’ maths skills because the paper will comprise maths, maths lit and even key maths. So it strikes a balance and no one is unfairly (dis)advantaged.
This would surely produce well-rounded math students? — Mike Idagiza, Katlehong
Do the right thing
YOUR article “Hawks gun for Jonas, Zweli, Gwede” (November 6) for “misdemeanours” relating to the alleged bribe offered by the Guptas beggars belief.
The article infers that the Zuma faction accepts that there was an offer made, otherwise it could not possibly think of charging the three.
Thankfully, Mcebisi Jonas did the right thing, showing his integrity.
The other two did absolutely nothing wrong, except perhaps not FALSE EQUIVALENCE: Donald Trump supported by the fact that Trump was drawing crowds that music superstars can only dream of, and this happened day after day.
Trump is not a racist or a globalist, but a nationalist who wants a fair shake for all Americans, whether black, white or indifferent. — Christopher Collins, Cape Town being complicit enough with downright criminality.
Come on, Shaun Abrahams, do the right thing. Charge that looting Gupta criminal — if, that is, you can see thorough the egg on your face. — GWG, Johannesburg
The greasy poll
WE should have known.
After the Brexit polls were so wrong and the Clinton/Trump polls were even more incorrect, we cannot trust a poll unless he or she comes from Poland.
Was pre-presidential Trump correct in claiming the polls were unfairly rigged for Clinton, or do people just change their minds so easily?
It would not help to take a poll on this, so why even bother? — Rob Nicolai, Howick