Nzimande delivered the seminal paper on 'education transformation' at Wits Business School on Thursday (July 23, 2009) whereby he called for the higher education institutions' need to be inclusive of a broader range of South Africans.
"Education transformation is .... about advancing a developmental agenda to benefit the overwhelming majority of our citizens.
We have to find alternative means to bring young people with potential into the higher education system. My suggestion that we review matric' endorsement as the only entry point into university entry was miscontrued in various sectors as aimed in decimating academic standards, and this is far wide from the truth.
Surely to some, opening opportunities to the previously underpriviledged youth may appear that 'barbarians are at the gate, clamouring to get in and destroy their gentle lifestyle and their high standards', and if that is what they think, then it is too bad" cautions Nzimande.The reality in South Africa, added Nzimande, was that most people were poor and black, and did not have access to adequate schooling.
And this democratic government .... cannot be expected to pander to the class and racial prejudices of the priviledged, whether they are white or members of the black elite.
"What is wrong when we propose ideas that provide free education up to an undergraduate level,why does this provoke some 'irrational fear' to some sections of the South African population?
Does this mean that the government would allegedly 'drop standards by swampling the universities with the poor and the unwashed? " questioned Nzimande.
The attainment of free undergraduate education for all poor youth will no doubt be a process, he assured the audience, and will not be implemented without due consultation engagement will all our stakeholders.
'Widening access to higher education was as important as ensuring students wer succesful in their studies.
This peoples' centred govrnmnt must ensure that we provide them with the support that they need to succeed as long as they are prepared to put in the necessary effort" concluded Nzimande.
Meanwhile, the newly-appointed and the first Black Rector ever at the Univesity of Free State Professor Jonathan Jansen graviates at witnessing the prospect of forging national unity thast was exhibited by students across colour on his first week as the Vice Chancellor there.
"On my first week at UFS and evrything I heard about the place would scare the epidermis of a black man stranded at night in the midst of this campus.
However, what I saw at the Huis Abraham Fischer (Residence) was something completely unexpected .... a group of white boys and black boys singing together in Afrikaans some of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.
They were clearly good friends, a team enjoying each other's company, hernce, am calling South African youth to start embracing each other and begin to sing from a new hymn book" observed Jansen.
The Univrsity of Free State was recently in the news for all the bad publicity aftr some white students (rascals) were captured on video urinating in food and beer which they had forced on the varsity maids to eat and drink, whereon the maids had vomited over this concotion.
