Student can’t write final exams for second time
JOBURG - Addressing attendees at the recent second National Education Summit in Durban, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said that for South Africa to succeed in achieving sustained transformational development, it needs to invest in higher education.
Despite this, a young woman is racing against the clock as outstanding fees could prevent her from writing her third-year final examinations for the second time in a row.
Next month it’s examination time for students and the persistent Port Elizabeth-born Asiphe Cokile, who is studying towards a National Diploma in journalism and media studies at Damelin College in Braamfontein, has no money to pay off her outstanding fees of R36 000.
The 22-year-old student was born in the township of Walmer. At home she has three siblings, a brother and two sisters. Her father, who works as a driver for the Nelson Mandela Municipality, is the only breadwinner and her unemployed mother suffers from arthritis and has been looking for specialists to help her with her condition.
Last year, Cokile was in distress as she watched her classmates graduating because she didn’t write her final paper as her father could not afford to pay her fees. She had to drop out on the eve of her examinations. “It was weird, painful. It was very frustrating and it made me realise that life is not easy. When I saw my classmates graduating, I was so miserable, I was sad, I had to fight to get back into my studies,” Cokile said.
Without a good Samaritan, the same fate is facing the young woman who is fighting hard to finish her studies so she can change the situation at home, as her struggling father still has to pay for the education of her siblings, as well as take care of his sickly wife, put food on the table and take care of many household responsibilities.
Cokile is looking for good Samaritans to help her finish her studies. “This will not help only me, but the whole family as I will be able to change the whole situation at home. At home it’s tricky, my dad is the only breadwinner and I have other siblings, it’s hard for him to cope. He can’t provide for all of us. My 14- and 17-year-old sisters are still at primary and high school.”
Cokile matriculated in 2011 and came to Joburg to make her dreams come true. Her father tried applying for loans but he didn’t qualify.
“I reached a point in my life where I was forced go back home, but I refused because I had hope that things would go back to normal. I am very persistent and dedicated to whatever I do and… [I] push very hard for my studies. I never give up,” she insisted.
