Economic Barriers to Education

South Africa is a relevant topic of interest given our recent discussion of it in class. We have learned of the events leading up to the Apartheid, but have not spoken much about the Apartheid period itself. It's important to note, that it was a long struggle for South African to break the barriers created by the Apartheid, and despite defeating the archaic and barbaric practice, many of the effects of it still linger today. Unfortunately for South Africa, despite the African National Congress leading the country for the better part of two decades, a major economic disparity exists between the wealthy, the poor, and the ever decreasing middle class.

I mentioned in a previous blog more about this economic issue, and we're now seeing it flood into other sectors within the South African infrastructure. One of these sectors is that of Education. Many South African individuals who are more than qualified to attend a university are being turned away because they cannot afford the fee increases. South Africa wants to, "raise university fees by between 10.5% and 12% in 2016." One may argue that this is a discrimination against people of color, and while it may be, I believe it is a discrimination against humanity. Education leads to forward thinking, it educates us about prior events in history for which we can do our best to prevent (Apartheid for example), and it aids not just individuals with prosperity, but it brings innovation and advancement to countries and our planet as a whole.

This issue doesn't exist just in South Africa, but all over the world and especially America. University should not be a privilege for the wealthy, or well off, but rather a right for those who desire to pursue the fruits of labor that education brings with it. I commend what the people of South Africa are doing, and wish that the spirits of the protesting South African students could find its way to America.

Source:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34656160