WHEN the story of the student protests is told in years to come, it will no doubt be in the context of years of inept government policy decisions which stripped the universities of the extra cash they needed as they opened their doors to a larger and more diverse student body, creating a context for disaffection and putting university finances under immense pressure.The approach to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was also quite inept, adding to the stresses for students and for universities.The student movement itself reflects SA’s fractured politics and the political dynamics have been complex, and shifting.But the government must take a good part of the blame. It is not necessarily making sensible decisions even now, though Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has at last made a decision on fee increases that will at least provide the universities with certainty and save them from bankruptcy. That is welcome.And we have the Heher commission on higher educatio...
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