Darren Maule responds to angry Fees Must Fall e-mail

A very angry listener sent a heated e-mail to Darren Maule regarding the #FeesMustFall debate that has put the countries universities to a halt.

The e-mail from Anne* reads:

"Darren, heard you briefly on radio this a.m. Switched on to listen to the news, listened to news, then switched off again.

Just wanted to give you my take on your statement that “everyone deserves quality education at a reasonable cost. “You then went on to say that for some that means “free education.”

Which some??? Who and how will these very luck individuals be chosen?

This is my take.
1.       Free and quality will NEVER go together. Even the free air we breathe is not good quality.

2.       Put your money where your mouth is – go to any school, select a deserving student and pay for their 

          university/college education. Nothing stopping you.

3.       Problem is most often when people get something for nothing it is not appreciated.

4.       Where do you suggest the money comes from to put these lucky people through university/college  

           education?
Anne* 

Darren Maule Responded:

Dear Anne*
I briefly read through your e-mail because I too am in a privileged position to check my e-mails on the go. Just briefly, mind you, just off the top of my head - I have some answers to your 4 problems with my statement on air about access to quality affordable education for ALL South Africans.

Keeping in mind that historically an educated nation is immeasurably better on every level than those not, from human rights to general well being. That aside, I will try to answer your questions which seem at first be a very superficial complaint to a greater pressing social issue.

1. So long as education is seen as a commodity, then it is only accessible to those who can afford it. Why must a poor person get less access than you to the opportunity at success and prosperity?

2. Your idea of a privileged person 'sponsoring' a student is an archaic policy of trickle down economics which does nothing to emancipate the poor. The whole idea that a privileged few get to chose (at whim and with their own colonially influenced criteria) who is worthy of your charity and who not sticks in my craw.

3. Your third point on your list was some pithy platitude of 'What you don't work for - you don't value.' Please tell me how hard the homeless must work and the jobless must toil before they qualify for the same automatic opportunities as those born into some money do.

4. These responses are just off the top of my head as I briefly read your e-mail between two meetings. The first was to find funding for a school playground and the second to raise money for a little girl who can't afford sanitary pads let alone food before her 30 kilometer walk to school.

I think your fourth point was something about where will the money come from for free education.
In my experience corporate South Africa wants to put money toward this but are loath to spend more money that will line corrupt or inept pockets. Government will only change its ways if there is sufficient pressure put on them. Wouldn't it be refreshing if the students didn't have to fight this battle on their own but if they had the full night of the electorate behind them? Just off the top of my head; where would I find the R40-billion needed?

Umm:
-Stop bailing out failing parastatals.
-Cut down a bloated cabinet and eliminate over priced consultants and plug the tenderpreneur process.
-Stop the R1-TRILLION nuclear power procurement process.

This is just my opinion and I hope I covered your concerns. Tomorrow after news I plan to take on the Clinton/Trump debate and if I have time maybe touch on the quest for quality affordable transport for ALL who don't have a mountain bike collecting dust in their garage.

Regards;
Darren Maule
P.S. Thanks for listening.

Was Darren Maule right or do you agree with Linda?