Concerned About GRN Treatment of Medical Students

I AM a medical student at the University of Cape Town.

I would really appreciate it if you publish this letter. I am really concerned by the way our GRN treats medical students in South Africa.Our President always makes statements on how the country needs doctors desperately, but in my opinion the GRN is just good at talking without putting their money where their mouths are.As a medical student in SA, we receive a loan from the GRN which only covers half of our University fees.It is really terrible that our parents have to take bank loans every year to cover the rest of our fees.When we finish our studies the GRN wants us to work for them as well as pay their money back on top of the bank loans some of us already have.So do you expect us to feel happy about this? Students from Botswana receive full bursaries from their government to come and study medicine in South Africa, plus they receive money to buy their books and stationery as well as pocket money worth around R2000-00 per month.If the Botswana Government can do this for their students, why not our GRN? Can someone please do something and assist us, we need help and are tired of all the talking without any assistance.To be honest with you the total cost for my tuition and accommodation fees alone comes to around R55 000-00 a year and the GRN only give me a loan (not a bursary) which covers half of that money.If there is any GRN official who does not believe me I can send them a statement.UCT Student Via e-mailNote: Real name and address provided – EdI am really concerned by the way our GRN treats medical students in South Africa.Our President always makes statements on how the country needs doctors desperately, but in my opinion the GRN is just good at talking without putting their money where their mouths are.As a medical student in SA, we receive a loan from the GRN which only covers half of our University fees.It is really terrible that our parents have to take bank loans every year to cover the rest of our fees.When we finish our studies the GRN wants us to work for them as well as pay their money back on top of the bank loans some of us already have.So do you expect us to feel happy about this? Students from Botswana receive full bursaries from their government to come and study medicine in South Africa, plus they receive money to buy their books and stationery as well as pocket money worth around R2000-00 per month.If the Botswana Government can do this for their students, why not our GRN? Can someone please do something and assist us, we need help and are tired of all the talking without any assistance.To be honest with you the total cost for my tuition and accommodation fees alone comes to around R55 000-00 a year and the GRN only give me a loan (not a bursary) which covers half of that money.If there is any GRN official who does not believe me I can send them a statement.UCT Student Via e-mailNote: Real name and address provided – Ed