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Education on the African continent focus of UFS #AfricaMonth celebrations

25 May 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Dries Myburgh

Africa Month celebration on the UFS South Campus — Attending the Africa Month celebrations on the UFS South Campus were, from the left: Temba Hlasho, Executive Director: Student Affairs; Thandeka Mosholi, Head: Social Responsibility, Enterprise, and Community Engagement; Prof Colin Chasi; Ms Zola Thamae; Prof Francis Petersen; Simphiwe Dube, South Campus SRC President; Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier, Director: Office for International Affairs; Poloko Masuelele; Nombulelo Shange, Lecturer in Sociology; and Bulelwa Moikwatlhai (seated), Office for International Affairs.

Amid great fanfare, colour, and song, the South Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) kicked off Africa Month in celebration of education on the African continent.

Delivering welcoming remarks on behalf of Dr Marinkie Madiope – the South Campus Principal – was Poloko Masuelele, Assistant Director heading the Curriculum Design and Development Unit on the South Campus. “The African continent is suffering a great deal of challenges, including the scourges of malnutrition and strained delivery of basic education. How revolutionary would it be if we could simultaneously eradicate these vices by formulating policies, mechanisms, and vehicles that would enable us to feed, heal, and teach our people? It is incumbent on us as thought leaders to take the lead in this significant enterprise.”

Bringing a government prospect, was Ms Zola Thamae, the Acting Director in the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation. She stated that there is much that could be done to address challenges in Africa if the university and government take hands. She also urged students to read and educate themselves in order to change their background.

Searching for African solutions

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, delivered the keynote address. Focusing on the theme of Africa Month, he said when it comes to educational development, there is no other continent that has faced the same trials and challenges as ours. “But in the harsh crucible of history, character, tenacity, and a sense of ubuntu were forged, translating into an exciting, fertile breeding ground for new knowledge creation, independent thought, and innovation,” he added.

He quoted Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, who said, “Africa’s story has been written by others; we need to own our problems and solutions and write our own story,” and added that over the past few decades, on many fronts and in many spheres – also in education – this is exactly what has been happening.

“We are actively searching for African solutions to African problems. The value we can offer is substantial,” he said.

Prof Petersen expressed confidence not only in Africa’s people, but also in what they are bringing to the table. “While Africa has established itself as an attractive investment destination, it is now more sought after for its people than for its physical assets. And its people have been driving exciting and encouraging developments in education.”

“In terms of Africa’s contribution to global knowledge, the world is slowly but surely acknowledging the abundant evidence of scientific innovation contributed by African scholars – not only at present, but since the earliest times.”

He also trusts that Africans have advanced considerably in decolonialising curricula. “Across our continent, African history, achievements, and discoveries have been absorbed into school curriculums, replacing a Eurocentric focus in education, and fulfilling the vision of Africans owning their own story. Most higher education institutions – the UFS included – have over the past decade or two also been engaged in a comprehensive, systematic process of decolonising our curricula – incorporating the knowledge created on our own continent in various study fields.”

Despite these encouraging milestones that education has reached in Africa, Prof Petersen is of the opinion that much remains to be done. “As custodians of higher education in Africa, and as part of the larger education sector, we have our work cut out for us,” he stated.

He believes that the unique point in time in which Africa finds itself presents an opportunity to completely reimagine the entire education landscape.

Collectively we will succeed

Also contributing some valuable input to the celebratory event, was Prof Lynette Jacobs, Associate Professor in the Department of Open and Distance Learning. She stated that one of the problems of colonial education is that it does not cultivate African self-esteem. Quoting President Julius Nyerere, she shared that “Education should not alienate students from their traditions but should rather make them appreciate themselves as Africans.”

According to her, Africans have lost the confidence to celebrate themselves in their African cultures and traditions within the formal education environment.

“Collectiveness, togetherness, dialogue, and being authentically human are what Africa brings to the world. The world has so much to learn from Africa,” she said and asked the audience, “Do you embrace who you are and are you proud to share it with the rest of the world?”

Representing the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice was Prof Colin Chasi. He emphasised the importance of working together to bring about positive change in Africa. “We enhance our capacity if we are working together. Collectively we will succeed; separately we will suffer a terrible fate,” he stated.

News Archive

Statement on protest at the UFS

2005-03-04

Following a protest by student and non-student organisations today, the management of the University of the Free State (UFS) would like to place the following facts on record:

1. There is a well-documented process underway to further transform the UFS. At the official opening of the UFS on 4 February 2005 , the Rector and Vice-chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, announced that the UFS would draft a comprehensive Transformation Plan to guide the next phase of transformation at the institution.

The UFS appeals to student formations, staff associations, trade unions and other role-players to make a constructive input into this Transformation Plan.

The UFS management has been - and always will be - willing to engage with role-players and is prepared to do so even after today’s protest.

2. There is thus no regulation or policy prescription which separates students in hostels according to race.

The reality is that students exercise their freedom of choice as to which hostel they wish to be placed in. This was agreed upon by black and white students in 1997/8.

However, the unintended consequence and practice of this hostel placement policy has been that students themselves have tended to choose to stay in hostels which have over time become black hostels and white hostels.

This is a matter of concern for the management of the UFS as such a situation does not promote interaction across language, cultural and socio-economic groupings of students.

This matter is receiving attention and an intensive consultative process, which will include students, will be launched to review this policy.

The management is convinced that such interaction will enhance the learning experience of all students and sensitise them to the reality of a multicultural South Africa and a multicultural world.

3. No student organisation has been banned from operating at any of the three campuses of the UFS.

In the past few weeks, SASCO, the Young Communist League and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) have held meetings on all three campuses, namely the Qwaqwa campus, the Vista campus and the main campus.

There are also regular interactions between top management and the leadership of SASCO and the ANCYL on campus.

In fact, the UFS upholds the right of students and staff to associate freely and to organise themselves as they see fit.

The UFS also upholds the rights of staff and students to engage in legal and peaceful protests.

The management however remains committed to discussing issues that affect staff and students in a constructive manner and appeals to student organisations in this case to engage with management.

4. The issues of registration, fees, debt and financial aid are continually monitored, and interventions to assist students are made regularly. To assist as far as possible those academically deserving students who face financial difficulties, the UFS management has put in place a structure called the Monitoring committee that includes management and student representatives.

The purpose of the Monitoring Committee is to review the cases of individual students to determine how best they can be assisted.

This applies to the Qwaqwa campus, the Vista campus and the main campus.

It is generally the case that students who perform academically will not have any difficulty in obtaining financial assistance. However, according to the requirements of National Student Financial Scheme, students who perform poorly will have difficulty in obtaining such assistance.

5. With regard to student governance, the process to institute an inclusive Central Student Representative Council (SRC), on which all three campuses will be equitably represented, was launched in July 2004, and a preliminary constitution has just been drafted. At the same time an inclusive process to review certain elements of the constitution of the main campus SRC was initiated at the end of 2004. This process, which includes all relevant student organisations and structures, is planned to produce an outcome within the next couple of months.

6. There is no policy at the UFS that is based on racism or that discriminates on the basis of the race of students and staff.

As part of the building of a new institutional culture within the broader transformation process, the UFS management is determined to eradicate all elements of racism that may occur on its campuses, and has already instituted inclusive forums on campus to discuss the issue of values and principles for a non-racial university.

Issued by: Mr Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cell: 072 207 8334
Tel: (051) 401-2749
4 March 2005

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