South African universities will be allowed to determine their own fees increases for 2017, according to a report by the City Press.<\/p>\n
The report stated that university councils will be able to determine their own fee hikes \u2013 a move which could result in student riots and protests.<\/p>\n
A senior executive in the Department of Higher Education told the City Press that they cannot determine university fee increases, as they do not have legal authority over the institutions\u2019 financial decisions.<\/p>\n
The universities will reportedly increase fees by 8%, while Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande wants it to be capped at 6%.<\/p>\n
This follows a decision last year by the government to force universities to implement a 0% fee increase.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the minister must just give in to the 8%. There is very little difference between his 6% and the vice-chancellors\u2019 8%,\u201d said the official.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn any case, students don\u2019t want any increment, so it matters little to them if it is 6% or 8%.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another 0% fee increase will mean the \u201cbeginning of the end\u201d for public universities in South Africa, Jonathan Jansen, rector of the University of the Free State, recently warned.<\/p>\n
While experts warn that a 0% fee increase is not sustainable, students have stated that a fee increase will lead to disruptions at universities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the minister makes an announcement of a fee increase somewhere between 6 and 8%, already far below the actual costs of higher education expenditure in each university, the public higher education institutions will hobble their way into the next academic year,\u201d said Jansen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf, as expected, students protest in response to the announcement, as some have promised, shut down the universities and further make 2017 a gap year, then it is over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Student leaders say they are not prepared to contemplate any fee increase.<\/p>\n
You can read the full story in The City Press for 4 September 2016<\/em><\/p>\n SA university proposes increasing fees only for rich families<\/a><\/p>\n 16 universities in South Africa in financial distress<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Zuma orders 0% university fee increase \u2013 despite threat of collapse<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SA universities could become dysfunctional by 2018 with 0% increase<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on education<\/h3>\n