Campus clashes, falling rand pushing SA students to look overseas

South Africa’s rand has plummeted in value since December, but students are more eager than ever to study at universities overseas as unrest disrupts campus life at institutions across the country.

Since October, student protests have been held on university campuses first against rising tuition fees, then about outsourcing staff and most recently about the use of Afrikaans as a language of instruction.

Last month four universities, North-West University, the University of Pretoria at Hatfield and Groenkloof, and the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein had to close their campuses after arson attacks during the clashes.Liza Manoussis, owner of Global Education agency, said she has seen greater interest from students as a result of the unease, especially those already studying in South African universities.

“My inbox is full of applicants who are on campus who’ve done one year or two years and want to move,” she commented. “Students are passing on lower GPAs, [which won’t be recognised at overseas universities], so parents are saying let’s just get them out from now and start again.”In January, the Department of Education estimated the total damage made during the protests at 13 university campuses from October to January was R145m ($9.4m). After clashes this month the costs to repair broken statues and burnt buildings will undoubtedly rise.