*Prof Barney Pityana must go!* *11 May 2009*
The Young Communist League of South Africa and the South African Students’ Congress notes the immoral and nonsensical decision of UNISA in pursuance of profits maximisation and violation of students rights access to education as guaranteed in the constitution. The decision by UNISA to deny more than 200 000 students to write their mid-year exams is a major cause for concern in the midst of the ANC led government renewed efforts of improving access to higher education for the working class and the poor. The YCLSA and SASCO strongly believe that UNISA and other institutions of higher learning should not subject education to the whims of the market fundamentals and be sold at a highest price. This raises serious and fundamental questions around the commodification of education, in the midst of escalating high cost of living and grinding poverty amongst the majority of South Africans, especially amongst the working class and the poor. We urge UNISA to act in the interests of these 200 000 thousands who deserve the necessary skills and a future, and above all including a better and quality education in order to meet the needs and demands of our people as informed by our overall political economy. As the YCLSA and SASCO in the absence of free education and clear leadership at UNISA that all the affected students are given an opportunity to write and continue with their academic studies. We are also concerned by lack of vision and leadership qualities of Prof Barney Pityana who was opportunistically and cowardly being used to facilitate leadership positions for his political buddies at the Congress of the People [COPE]. This clearly demonstrates that Pityana’s passion is not in the academia given the mess and chaos UNISA finds itself. The prestigious position that Pityana occupies cannot be abused by him to fulfil his personal egos and personal political ambitions at the expense of the students. This call for Pityana to be showed the door to allow UNISA to have a new, clear and focused leader who will address the pressing needs and demands of students especially for the working class and the poor. We call on the newly appointed Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande to hasten long overdue programme to regulate fees in institutions of higher learning, as a strategic role player in the skills development of our country. Issued by YCLSA Contact: *Castro Ngobese* *YCLSA National Spokesperson – 082 567 3557* *Or* *Magasela Mzobe* *SASCO Secretary General – 083 563 7942* --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
