FOR too long students have been allowed to trash campuses – at taxpayers’ expense – simply because they are angry about some issue.
After meeting with university Vice Chancellors on Tuesday, Zuma, while condemning the violent behaviour, said universities should take stern action against students who embark on violence and destruction of property.
According to reports ‘it was agreed that all forms of dispute must be resolved through negotiation and where wanton acts of criminality take place, the law must take its course’.
Exactly!
This ongoing childish behaviour of so-called ‘future leaders’ must now be stopped in its tracks. It is costing taxpayers millions every year.
The often weak-kneed response by universities must be replaced by firm action and government should then back them up when they do so.
Committed students, who really are the majority and who simply want to carry on with their studies instead of playing politics, should themselves also take a stand.
But as government will be expected to support universities taking a hard line, so too must tertiary institutions come up with workable strategies to support and protect those sensible students who care about their futures.
The lack of intelligence among students who see the destruction of their own facilities as a solution to problems rather than entering into adult debate and negotiation, baffles the mind.
It is time that we all stand together and turn words into deeds and fix this cancer in our education system once and for all.
MC THERON
