Fees will not fall in South Africa – report
The long-awaited Heher commission’s report has found that free higher education for all students in South Africa is not financially feasible, according to the City Press.
The 748-page report by the commission of inquiry into higher education and training said that alternative funding models need to be adopted which should take into account the state of the country’s economy.
The commission was set up following a #FeesMustFall protest by students some two years ago, and according to the City Press, the report examined some 20 different scenarios of funding.
President Jacob Zuma has withheld the release of the report since receiving it it from Judge Heher at the end of August.
According to the City Press, recommendations by the Heher commission report include:
- A “cost-sharing model” where the government commits to spending a fixed 1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) to subsidise universities, with students paying fees according to a “fair and affordable” structure regulated by the Council on Higher Education.
- An “income-contingent loan” (ICL) system where students would repay their debt based on their post-qualification salaries.
- The scrapping of registration fees.
- A “fee-free” structure for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college students, funded by the department of higher education and training.
- Increasing the government subsidy for the university sector to 1% of GDP.
- Channelling unclaimed pension benefits into the tertiary sector.
- The establishment of an education fund for companies, individuals and international aid organisations to donate money towards higher education.
- That universities up their efforts to raise money from alumni.
Read: Why South African universities can’t afford free education
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