Dialogue reflects on challenges young people face
A higher learning experience drawing on past lessons accompanied the theme of 2022 ’ s youth-centred dialogue at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Summerstrand yesterday.
The Nelson Mandela Annual Youth Convention brought together a class of academics, thought leaders and prominent #FeesMustFall figures, who highlighted the legacy of one of the turning points in SA’s higher education sector.
Under the theme, “Recreating ecosystems for youth development”, former student activists Yolokazi Mfuto, Lufefe Mkutu and Zikhona Dyala led an impactful panel discussion, reflecting on the events at the forefront of the student-led protests that started in October 2015.
Speaking on the opening day of the two-day event at the NMU Business School, dean of students Luthando Jack said the convention, now in its fifth year, was necessitated by an existential crisis facing the youth.
Jack said student exclusion at basic and tertiary levels affected their future job prospects and disrupted their capacity to create or access sustainable means of support.
“This is a platform to reflect on challenges young people face and offer a way forward on what needs to be done.”
#FeesMustFall was a student-led protest movement to stop increases in tuition fees at tertiary institutions.
Protests started at Wits University in Johannesburg and later at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Rhodes University was the first university in the Eastern Cape to see similar protests for free education before it spread to other SA universities.
Jack said widespread policy changes could support youth development and advancement, and NMU had played a vital support role in the inclusive and accessible education agenda.
“We have been front and centre of that agenda,” he said.
“The responses from young people confirm that.
“However, we’re not yet there.
“For instance, we have set up a youth entrepreneurship development centre which trains aspiring entrepreneurs.
“We are now forging partnerships with national and local organisations to cultivate entrepreneurship skills among our students.”
NMU deputy vice-chancellor for engagement and transformation Prof Andre Keet said though the movement faced criticism, some positives came from it.
Keet was acting vice-rector at the University of the Free State (UFS) at the height of the campaign.
When asked if completely free and non-exclusionary education could be realised, Keet said affordable access was more attainable.
“Affordable education should be very possible in the context of our country in my lifetime,” he said.
“I think that exclusions will be more difficult.
“[However], I think all social institutions almost have permanent exclusions.
“That will be part of life in any case.”
Keet said the way society moderated the impact of exclusions and developed an inclusive institutional culture was important.
“That’s the work that will take a much longer time with regard to university systems,” he said.