Crisis in Johannesburg: The Education Gap

Posted 11/08/2014 in Industry Trends, Online Education, Uncategorized

In Johannesburg, South Africa, there is a widespread education crisis. The crisis is simple, yet creates a number of complicated problems. There are too many students and not enough spots in one of the only quality universities in South Africa. In fact, this crisis had boiled over in January of 2012, when thousands of students stampeded into the University of Johannesburg eager to fulfill their dream of a college education and to create a brighter future for themselves. The real danger surfaced when many were injured from the stampede and one woman killed, all whom were desperate to find a better life for themselves or their child. In an interview with The New York Times, a local Johannesburg woman described the event, “They were pushing and pushing,” she said. “Even the gates fell over. Many people were injured.” About 85,000 students had applied for only 11,000 seats at University of Johannesburg, leaving a clear overflow of students who were left without a spot. Many students who are well-deserving and hard working are still unable to claim a seat at an institution. This lack of access to higher education has left citizens who were once aspiring college students are now jobless […]