It is matric dance time and I am fascinated about how parents in townships and villages who are supposedly poor are going all out to make sure that their children are well prepared for the special occasion. The dresses and suites, the hairstyles and even the cars that transports the children. Truth is that in February many of these children will not have any money to make the upfront payment needed at varsity. I see this every year and it makes me wonder. Why is it that parents are so willing to spend money on frivolous things as clothes and not on varsity fees? and why is it that none of the students asks their parents to rather give them the money, and not buy clothes, so that they can save it for a few months later when matric results are announced? Where is the wisdom bathong?
We talk about capitalist tendencies when universities ask for upfront payments but we do not see these same tendencies in the matric dance phenomenon. We see the wrongness of the system when it comes to varsity fees but we do not see the same wrongness of the system when it comes to matric dances. Why is it that schools in poor areas are not finding something more meaningful to replace the lavishness of the matric dance?
Okay before you shoot or swear at me, let me say that I have no problem with children looking good and dressing up nicely, all I am saying is that if you are willing and able to do that then you must be willing and able to pay for your child’s varsity fees too. #WiseUp
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