UJ raises R31m to support Missing Middle

© HONGQI ZHANG – 123RF.com

The initiative - which aims to raise at least R60m by the end of this year - kicked off with a high profile event in Johannesburg where R10m was generated.

Nearly R31m had already been raised by 28 February, including a personal donation of R200,000 by UJ vice-chancellor, Professor Ihron Rensburg, as well as R100,000 that has been pledged by the university's Students Advisory Council. The executive deans of faculties at the university have also jointly pledged R550,000 to the fund.

“Our job as universities is the empowerment of the next generation of leaders for the South African economy, society and governance through academic study leading to concrete, sought-after qualifications,” Prof Rensburg said.

Funding challenges

"While the #feesmustfall campaign last year successfully highlighted the funding challenges facing all South African universities, we are acutely aware that we have a particular duty to thousands of our students who no longer qualify for government support via NSFAS, but whose families cannot afford to put them through university. It is this 'missing middle' that UJ aims to support through the campaign.”

About 5,000 students at UJ are currently classified as part of the 'Missing Middle' - almost all of whom have been assisted by the university, which has paid their initial payment for the 2016 academic year. However, these students still require support for the balance of their fees, books, and other living needs.

The UJ Missing Middle campaign aims to cover the tuition fee portion of the full year’s costs. The average total cost of a year's study at UJ currently stands at R85,000 - including tuition and residence fees, books and a living allowance.