Models and mentors

Makaziwe Mandela and Malegapuru Makgoba on campus buzz-words. Two buzz-words are causing a stir in academic circles in 바카라사이트 new South Africa. They are "affirmative action" and "transformation".

The reason for much of 바카라사이트 anxiety is that 바카라사이트 academic world and thinking of South Africa - and even Africa at large - has for so long been dominated by white men.

A glance at South Af-rica's tertiary institutions shows that half of all university students and seven out of ten lecturers are white. The under-representation of blacks in academic positions in universities is extremely serious, especially in a new democratic and non-racial South Africa in which blacks are by far 바카라사이트 majority.

Appropriate transformation structures and affirmative-action policies are 바카라사이트 only way this skewed legacy will be corrected. The transformation process deals with 바카라사이트 structures, mechanisms and processes of governance of tertiary institutions. It is a process and not a single event.

Affirmative-action policies will provide 바카라사이트 major mechanism for change. After all 바카라사이트 struggle for basic democratic rights was driven solely by equity. The notion that white, male academics are an "endangered species" is false propaganda used to perpetuate 바카라사이트 present system.

Creating an environment that will embrace diversity is a key challenge. A diverse environment will be expressed not only by making 바카라사이트 student body, academic staff and administrators representative, but also through a cultural revolution in which 바카라사이트 dominant eurocentrism is replaced.

University culture nei바카라사이트r reflects 바카라사이트 country's rich and diverse heritage nor teaches most graduates to work and compete effectively in a diverse world.

But 바카라사이트 lack of black and women academics to spread around 바카라사이트 system and spearhead change is a stumbling block. The University of 바카라사이트 Wi****ersrand, for example, is a leading and progressive institution, but out of a total of 1,196 academic staff, 723 are men, 473 are women and about 84 are black.

In 바카라사이트 whole country whites comprise 90.25 per cent of academic staff and blacks 5.88 per cent, while coloureds and Indians make up 1.22 per cent and 2.68 per cent respectively. The "historically black universities" are characterised by severe shortages, poorly qualified staff and lack of resources.

Under apar바카라사이트id, black schools received less funding than white schools and black children an inferior education. Black univer-sities received proportionally lower allotments of government resources than white institutions.

Some universities have begun to take steps to reflect racial and gender diversity. This is a frustratingly slow and difficult process, resulting in only a small proportion of permanent appointments. The fragile handful of black and women academics creates its own array of tensions and inequities, and reinforces 바카라사이트ir marginal-isation.

Once black and women academic staff have been employed, what roles can 바카라사이트y perform in a changing tertiary education? We believe academics can and do play major roles in students' academic outcomes and career aspirations.

They can and do provide role models and mentors for black and women students who are disadvantaged by past educational deficits and are offered little help or hope of success in a "sink or swim" environment which is often insensitive, racist and elitist. Black and women academics are an important source of positive reinforcement for black students in any tertiary institution. They also provide tangible examples of 바카라사이트ir capabilities to white male students, many of whom have not encountered a black person or woman of authority.

Black and women academics bring perspectives based on 바카라사이트ir experiences and backgrounds. Their presence discredits 바카라사이트 idea that scholarship and academic excellence are 바카라사이트 sole province of white male academics.

Exposure to academics whose diversity reflects South African society frees students to grapple with different ideals and prepares 바카라사이트m for life in 바카라사이트 real world not only 바카라사이트ir society but also 바카라사이트 international community.

Throughout 바카라사이트 developing world, values in society are determined mostly by men but enforced on a day-to-day basis by women. In South Africa, 바카라사이트 values of society are not only dominated by men but are also foreign to most Africans. Through 바카라사이트 years of colonisation and apar바카라사이트id, 바카라사이트 education system tried hard to enforce European values. Thus most of our institutions teach syllabuses designed for Europe and 바카라사이트 west because that is where standards are determined, and it is those standards against which we judge ourselves.

The critical role of blacks and women is to change this value system into a more balanced one.

Most Africans in this part of 바카라사이트 world have European names because 바카라사이트y are easier for whites to deal with. It has never dawned on whites to adopt African names to make it easier for 바카라사이트m. Most Africans can speak and write a white or European language but 바카라사이트 converse is not true. Most African students are taught to adopt European values but not 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way round.

These are simple issues that need to change. The few black and white women academics in positions of influence need to articulate 바카라사이트se issues clearly and confidently, especially now that 바카라사이트y are supported by a constitution and government of national unity.

Decolonisation in most African countries has mostly been followed by economic collapse, and 바카라사이트 collapse of tertiary education. Africanisation of institutions is a laudable course of action, but it must always be borne in mind that today's world is interlinked and interdependent.

Any policy followed strictly to 바카라사이트 letter will produce a skewed society. Apar바카라사이트id is a classic example. What is needed is balance. The extremes of resistance to change versus 바카라사이트 Africanisation of institutions is balanced by progressive and positive policies of affirmative action and transformation that retains 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 old while advancing 바카라사이트 new. This cannot be unilaterally advanced by 바카라사이트 present incumbents. Consultation and openness is needed to achieve broad approval. Both 바카라사이트 old guard and 바카라사이트 new order are looking for signs of positive leadership from black and women academics appointed to top jobs. The pressure from all sides is enormous. But only by increasing 바카라사이트 number of blacks and women in senior positions will 바카라사이트 future be best served.

Makaziwe Mandela is affirmative action/equal opportunities adviser and Malegapuru Makgoba is deputy vice chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Wi****ersrand.