Campus Debate Champions Raise Voice on Free Education Access

Bloemfontein — Student debaters from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State gathered this week for the ANCYL Campus Voices tournament, a platform for rigorous discussion on access to higher education.

Teams tackled questions on registration blocks, student housing shortages, NSFAS delays, and the role of youth in shaping education policy.

Winning team captain Naledi K. argued that free education must be paired with reliable student support systems: "Access without accommodation and mental health support is incomplete."

Judges included lecturers, youth organisers, and former student leaders who emphasised evidence-based advocacy over slogans.

The tournament outcomes will be compiled into a youth policy brief submitted to provincial education forums.

Organisers say the event will rotate campuses annually to keep student perspectives at the centre of national debate.