At last some common sense prevails as we hear what the rector of the University of the Free State, Professor Jonathan Jansen had to say to first-year students. He urged them to work hard and not become like the rest of South Africa.
“I’m ashamed,” he said, “of South Africa. It’s an absolute disgrace that you can pass matric with a mark of 30%. [Education Minister Angie] Motshekga is making a giant mistake by boasting about the matric pass rate. It’s an absolute disgrace,” Jansen said.
He also said students should not come to him with “sad stories and excuses like love problems”. This would be a waste of his time. “I always make time for students, but before you make an appointment, my secretary looks at your academic record. If you’ve failed a subject, I’m not going to waste my time with you,” he told the 4,000 first-year students.
He did however invite students to contact him on Facebook and Twitter.
And this is the part wek like the most: “You all are my children, and parents should be strict. If you pick up a stone and throw it on campus, I’ll expel you. If you hit someone, I’ll expel you. If you’re angry, I’ll expel you. If you treat a woman disrespectfully, I’ll expel you. You may be poor, but you can behave decently, my mother always said.”
Sela, we say.
