Published: Mon, 06 October 2025
Students have rights at school. These rights help them feel safe and be treated fair.
Many students in South Africa go to university. They study hard and want to do well. But they also need to know their rights. These rights help them when things go wrong.
One right is to get education. Every student can go to university if they meet the rules. No one can stop them because of money or where they come from. NSFAS helps students pay for school.
Students can speak their mind. They can talk about things they care about. They can join talks and write papers. They must not be scared to say what they think. This is called freedom of speech.
Students can join groups. They can be in clubs or unions. They can work together to ask for better things. This is called freedom of joining. It helps students feel strong.
No one can treat students bad because of race or gender or money. This is called no discrimination. If someone treats a student bad, they can tell the school or get help from the law.
Students can ask for help if they are treated unfair. They can go to the South African Human Rights Commission. They can also talk to lawyers. Some schools have free legal help.
Students must be safe at school. They must not be hurt or bullied. If they feel unsafe, they can tell someone. The school must help them feel okay.
Students can ask questions about their marks. If they think the marks are wrong, they can ask the teacher. They can also ask the school to look again. This is called fair marks.