Statement by Cameron Dugmore, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

Higher Education should not only produce graduates in commerce, science and technology who are technically skilled, but are also conscious of their potential to develop solutions, which will ultimately benefit the poor and marginalized, says Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore.

He was addressing a Student Assembly convened by the SA Student Congress (Sasco) on the UCT campus on Wednesday evening (23 April 2008). The students wanted to hear the MEC’s views on progress on higher education transformation in the Western Cape, backlogs, and the role of government in tackling transformational issues, such as racism.

The Student Assembly (SA) is a student parliamentary body, which holds the Student Representative Council (SRC) accountable, and recommends direction to the SRC on operational and policy matters. It has a membership of 70 student leaders who represents all campus constituencies of the UCT.

Said MEC Dugmore: “We need students across all disciplines who are both internationally competitive and committed to contributing to peace and development of our continent. They also need to be critical young people, confident to challenge prevailing wisdoms at all levels of our society.

“We need to locate the debate on higher education transformation within the context of our commitment to a developmental state and its ability to ensure that institutions funded and supported by the state, contribute to our goal of creating a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist South Africa.

“While a developmental state seeks to intervene to ensure accelerated and shared growth, it is also focused primarily on meeting social needs, building social cohesion by promoting the values of a caring society and also ensuring that our people enjoy safety and security in their homes, communities and places of learning.

“I am not suggesting that higher education simply becomes an extension of the democratic state but I believe it is critical that our universities are continually reminded of our national priorities and challenged to contribute to the resolution of these challenges in our teaching, our research and the work done in the communities that we serve.

“I believe that the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Western Cape Provincial Government and the Vice-Chancellors of the four Higher Education institutions in the Western Cape is an example of how the state and higher education can work together to realize, in this case, our provincial growth and development strategy, Ikapa Elihlumayo and the Home for All vision for the province.”

He appealed to the students at higher education to focus on:

• support to students, which will ensure better throughput
• a critical focus on curriculum issues by actively participating in student councils at faculty boards
• challenging the university in regard to extension work in communities and the allocations of university budgets for this work
• vocal support of attempts by government to introduce community service for students
• strengthening student organization and the reproduction of student leaders who will remain committed to transformation beyond landing their first corporate or government job
• getting involved in community work and projects such as the bra wam / sis wam mentorship projects and also tutoring programmes of organizations like Shawco and SASCO

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi:  082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.

Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za

The Western Cape - A Home for All
INtshona Koloni - iKhaya loMntu wonke
Die Wes-Kaap - 'n Tuiste vir Almal