Issues at stake: University failures could be overcome with discipline

THE problem begins with the parents, who believe simply being there when the child enrols is enough.

Universities have to start involving parents by scheduling meetings which must take place every semester.

Students are by nature easily distracted, and need to be reminded of the seriousness of their challenge and to be more responsible.

As the people paying the varsity fees, parents have a vested interest in attending meetings.

Bursars do not always check on the progress of the student, so when they get a negative report they tend to summarily terminate the bursary contract.

The issue of why the student does not achieve may have many root causes.

At Unizulu, as with all campuses, there are many problems.

This includes the abuse of alcohol and campus pregnancies, which lead to the highest dropout rate, year-end failures and low percentage pass rates.

Alcohol abuse is rife on the Unizulu campus, which results in some students failing modules and even deciding to commit suicide when they see their dismal academic records.

Naive parents give their children extra money to purchase groceries only to find that less is being spent on necessities and more on alcohol.

Also, the close proximity of taverns near the university is a temptation many students can’t resist.

Pregnancy on campus obviously also has a huge effect on immediate academic and future work prospects.

Young female ‘freshers’ find life on campus to be exciting , and being away of their parents’ eye gives them the freedom of engaging in sexual activities, often without protection.

Ultimately, these students are forced to quit, to take care of their newborn babies.

Many will never return.

It’s even worse when lecturers are alleged to have fathered the children of students, promising top grades if they submit to their overtures.

But all is not lost on campus.

There are those, often with serious religious convictions, who work hard at their studies, striving to do wonders in their assignments, test and exams.

Many of these well-performing students come from good backgrounds, where strong values are emphasised.

They know clearly what they are in the university to do, and while enjoying varsity life do not get distracted by the lure of superficial and self-destructive activities.