Lessons learnt in education

When we got the WhatsApp message the other night, there was an atmosphere of relief, as much as there was of celebration.

My daughter, Erin, has finally qualified as a veterinarian. Mom and Dad are, understandably, proud of her achievement, because the veterinary science course is one of the hardest to get on in the first place.

And it is tough: my daughter and her vet friends often joked to their friends doing medicine: your course is easy, you only have one species … Almost at the same time, President Jacob Zuma was once again floating his idea for free tertiary education – which got us thinking about the costs of putting Erin through university.

In the seven years she went to the University of Pretoria and then to its vet.science faculty at Onderstepoort (the first year, there was no vet intake, so she did part of a science degree), she cost us more than R1 million in tuition and living expenses.

My son’s B.Com law and LLB degrees from the University of Johannesburg, and then his master’s at Toulouse University, cost hundreds of thousands more.

I can hear the remarks that we were lucky; we could afford it.

That is true to a certain extent, but we did make big sacrifices.

I am only half-kidding when I tell my children that I had money and hair until I had kids. I am not complaining about any of it; I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

That comes with the territory of being a parent. And the truth is that both of them succeeded through hard work and dedication; they got nothing handed Zuma’s two roads to financial abyss. It would be easy to say that President Jacob Zuma does not grasp the economics of a complex mechanism like a country.

That would then explain why the ANC leader appears to be hell-bent on going down two roads which could drag the country onto, and over, the precipice of financial ruin.

The experts in the Treasury and department of finance have reportedly already expressed their firm opposition to Zuma’s proposals to spend taxpayer’s money the country does not have.

The nuclear deal has been described as all but off the table by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, who said the country could not afford it.

And the projected demand for electricity, which has slowed considerably in recent years, does not warrant such a huge investment.

Yet, by appointing his close henchman, David Mahlobo, as energy minister, and then punting the nuclear option himself, Zuma has sent a clear signal that he is prepared to do anything to push the deal through.

The government’s finance experts have also reportedly told the ANC leader the country cannot afford free university education.

Yet Zuma appears committed to some sort of plan to provide free tertiary education to at least some students.

Both plans have horrendous implications: everything from an increase in VAT to a cutback in other government services … all accompanied by a probable further ratings downgrade by international investment analysts.

The nuclear deal has the potential to make the corruption and state capture up to now look like a kiddies’ party and the education package will hurt the poor and middle class.

The former will keep Zuma’s friends in Russia happy.

The latter is a populist move aimed at outflanking opponents at the December elective conference. Zuma gets his way most of the time – but when Zuma wins, the country, invariably, loses. to them on a platter.

I do not disagree at all with Zuma’s plan to introduce free tertiary education, even if it is only for a section of students – those who are poor and deserving.

I also would not have a problem continuing to pay income tax and to pay fees if I still had a child at university. The haves must help the have-nots.

However, I have a sense of foreboding that the scheme is going to do more harm than good.

Firstly, the money could be far better spent on basic education where, despite the clever spin-doctoring each matric season, the general competence of students being unleashed from high schools is getting worse.

That, coupled with the lowering of pass marks and easing of university entrance requirements, is leaving a whole generation with a skewed idea of their competence. Most of those entering first year in university don’t belong there.

They should never have been pushed along the academic road. They should have been guided into becoming tradespeople.

There is nothing second-class about working with your hands and many make a better living at it that the clevers with university degrees.

These are the places Zuma could better spend my money and these are the things the government should be doing. But what is the reality?

A new education amendment Bill which will do away with school governing bodies and make it a criminal offence to home-school children. There are many times in your life when you wish you were younger.

This is one time I don’t. I don’t want to think about sending that cute little two-year-old out into an education system which is collapsing.

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Citizen acting deputy editor Brendan Seery.