In Nigeria, education is both a debt and death sentence

THE Education Rights Campaign, ERC, applauds the victory of South African students over attempts to impose a steep rise in registration, tuition and accommodation fees ranging from 8% to 12%. Playing active role in this important struggle is the Socialist Youth Movement, SYM, – the ERC’s sister organisation in South Africa that also campaigns for free and democratically-managed public education as the ERC does in Nigeria.

The ‪#‎FeesMustFall‬ protests started as a spontaneous movement from below of angry students who could not tolerate the pro-rich policy of university managements and the government any longer.

After ten days of struggle, the African National Congress, ANC, government of Jacob Zuma was forced to agree to 0 % fee increase in the year 2016. Although the demand for free education remains unachieved yet, this concession is no doubt a humiliating defeat of a government whose pro-rich policies have contributed to making South Africa one of the most unequal countries in the world.