Students organise radical occupation protests against university fees

The right to free, or at least affordable higher education, is something that is worth fighting for. In order to right for this right, students took to the streets to march and protest. Over 50 students  simply refused to pay their fees at one university.

Think we’re talking about South Africa? Think again. In 2008, students in Germany took mass action against tuition fees. The movement grew bigger and bigger and by 2013, public opinion had shifted. In 2014, fees were scrapped.

The world’s fourth largest economy abolished all higher education fees after flirting with the system for several years. Why? Because of student pressure.

And it hasn’t just happened in Germany. In 2009, as seen in the cover image of this article, 20 000 students protested in Austria for the right to free higher education.

Something similar is currently happening all over South Africa, with campuses being shut down. While we can’t deny that there have been a few bad apples spoiling the movement for everyone and using intimidating tactics, the basis of these protest is not borne out of a “hand out culture” as some commentators might want to believe. It is borne out of an international consciousness. It’s a movement borne out of the right to demand a better life through a better education and challenging the elitism of those in power.

While a number of UCT students were arrested on Monday, and a few unsavoury incidents have made its way into the headlines, these protest are not going to go away any time soon. While some of the intimidation used by some protest leaders have been galling, it does not take away from the idea of the moment.

The fundamentals of this movement is global and it is being demanded by students globally. They won’t stop until you listen. So, are you listening, government?