Screwed part 2

NSFAS update

I am hoping that some of you read my last post and agree with me that there are some serious injustices going on here.  I wanted to give you an update.

This past week the government announced it would officially NOT provide student loans to 70% of our Top Learners.  These Top Learners represent the top 1% of learners coming through the Township Education System.  They are the best of the best.  They represent the best chance for their families and communities to break out of the cycle of poverty.  All of them qualified to study at University - in fact - they were all accepted.  And now, inexplicably, the government has told 70% of them there is no money. It is an abomination and national disgrace.  

Our pleas for assistance had fallen on deaf ears until Mater Dei Catholic Church, led by Fr. Jerry Browne, decided enough was enough.  His sermon was planned, but as he said, the Holy Spirit intervened.  The Gospel this week was Matthew 5: 13-16- Salt of the Earth, Light of the World.  If you aren’t familiar with this passage, it is one which calls us to be a person who enhances this world, as salt enhances food and light enhances darkness.  Fr. Jerry felt compelled to through out his notecards and mid-sermon, established the Salt of the Earth, Light of the World Fund and raised over R168,000 in one day. It was an incredible act of generosity and love. The goal however is R200,000 which would allow all of the Top Learners to register and begin their classes this week. The Salt of the Earth, Light of the World Fund offers hope to our learners and their families hope.  More than that, it has shown our learners and their families that we care and will not sit by idly while their lives are oppressed.

This was by far the most powerful Mass that I have ever sat through.  This is an issue that was unknown to the majority of the affluent PE community, for various reasons.  Being told that we have 24 hours to raise this lump sum, and change lives forever was both intimidating and empowering. 

I am still disgusted that the government makes promises and just doesn’t deliver, and even more outraged that education doesn’t seem to be a priority here in the Eastern Cape.  The Salt of the Earth, Light of the World Fund has paid for their registration, but we still need NSFAS to agree to loan them the tuition money.  With our learners in class, we now have 3 months to convince government & the University to overturn this grave injustice and do the right thing.  We challenge everyone to speak to political leaders, NSFAS, and NMMU Management (particularly the VC's office).

Our Top Learners have started university this week, but overturning the government ruling will create another stressful 3 months.  I hope that those called to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world will join forces!