The signing of a Memorandum of Intent with Ubuntu Education Fund is a significant step that moves Rhodes University closer to its goal of increasing access to the broadest possible pool of students, especially those who come from the Eastern Cape, and from poor rural and working class backgrounds.
“The university has made a conscious decision to increase access to education,” says Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic & Student Affairs.
“It is important for our students to interact and mingle with those who come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds as there is an increased educational value in having a broadly representative student population.”
“Ubuntu's partnership with Rhodes University forms part of our strategy to continually increase the value of our services to young people in Port Elizabeth. It also underscores our commitment to quality and excellence in building the next generation of leaders for South Africa.
“One of the key aspects of the partnership is the fact that Ubuntu Education Fund is an internationally recognized best practice model, providing disadvantaged students with cradle to career support. On the other hand, Rhodes is a globally renowned academic institution “where leaders learn”,” said Mr Jordan Levy, Managing Director of Ubuntu Education Fund.
“This innovative process … will produce learning that will be shared and replicated in order to improve preparation for, and access to, university for disadvantaged children across the country,” explains Mr Levy.
“We believe this is an absolutely worthy cause,” Dr Mabizela reiterates, and an excellent model for the University to study and learn from. The Ubuntu method of close mentoring is one which will be studied and, possibly, scaled up, to identify non-Ubuntu students who are struggling and may also need support in the academic, financial or social arenas.
“It is important for Rhodes as an institution to be part of this noble objective of extricating young people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves at risk,” says Dr Mabizela. “If they can be helped, they will be the ones who are able to lift their families out of poverty.”
The University has been aware for some time of the wonderful work done by the Ubuntu Education Fund, particularly in regard to vulnerable children and young adults. The Fund invests considerably in providing for their socio-economic needs and supporting them through their schooling.
The Memorandum of Intent is aimed at creating “a pipeline” for young people who have completed their Grade 12 on the Ubuntu programme, and enable them to continue their education on a tertiary level at Rhodes University.
A number of Ubuntu-supported students are already studying at Rhodes and receiving extensive support and mentoring from the organisation, which made the signing of the Memorandum a natural progression.
As well as creating the opportunity for Ubuntu students to come to Rhodes, the Memorandum also makes provision for their support. Rhodes will work together with Ubuntu to raise funds to support students financially, and also the students will receive psycho-social and educational support as and when it is needed.
Ubuntu Education Fund is a grassroots organization that has developed a model for raising children in the disadvantaged townships of Port Elizabeth. It was founded on the dream of giving township children the same opportunities to succeed in life as someone who is born into a privilege background.
Photo: Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic & Student Affairs (front row 2nd from left to right) leads Rhodes delegation and associates to Ubuntu Education Fund in Port Elizabeth.
By: Jeannie McKeown
Picture: supplied