Private universities will\u00a0save South Africa millions each year, according to\u00a0Piet Mouton, CEO of PSG \u2013 which holds\u00a0a 58% stake in private school operator Curro.<\/p>\n
According to a report by the Sunday Times, Curro plans to expand its higher-education drive, following turmoil at South Africa\u2019s public universities in recent months over fees protests.<\/p>\n
PSG, through Curro, plans to invest\u00a0in more \u201cprivate higher education institutions\u201d, stated the report.<\/p>\n
Curro\u00a0already plays in the higher education field, with a\u00a0teacher training college in KwaZulu-Natal, Embury, for 3,000 students.<\/p>\n
In 2017, two new Curro higher education institutions will open \u2013 one for\u00a01,600 students in Midrand and one for 1,000 students in Pretoria.<\/p>\n
An institution in the Western Cape for over 3,000 students will open in the next 2-3 years, stated the report.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurro is busy designing courses and degrees and getting them accredited, a process that will take two years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curro CEO Chris van der Merwe said they aim to grow private higher education in the country, as \u201cthere are 50,000 eligible students who cannot find places in public universities\u201d.<\/p>\n
Van der Merwe said degrees at Curro institutions would be accredited as public university degrees are, and would cost around R40,000.<\/p>\n
Curro universities will not receive government subsidies, he said.<\/p>\n
He added that if private universities are not allowed,\u00a0children of wealthy parents would leave South Africa.<\/p>\n
Curro\u2019s private higher education institutions will not be as recognised as UCT or Stellenbosch initially, but work will be done to ensure their degrees fit the needs of corporate South Africa.<\/p>\n
Van der Merwe added that 30,000 of the 42,000 pupils at Curro\u2019s private schools are black \u2013 and their \u201cuniversities\u201d will not be \u201cpredominantly white institutions\u201d.<\/p>\n
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has stated that the government\u00a0is against private universities in SA, as he said they will increase the cost of higher education, lead to academics being poached, and result in wealthy students leaving public universities.<\/p>\n
The full report is in the Sunday Times of 23 October 2016.<\/em><\/p>\nMore on Curro<\/h3>\n