Pretoria – Universities South Africa (USAF) has welcomed the advice by Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande on fee adjustments for the 2017 academic year.
Minister Nzimande announced on Monday that universities will individually decide on fee increases for the 2017 academic year. However, the recommendation is that fee increases should not go above 8%.
Responding to the Minister’s announcement on behalf of the 26 public universities affiliated to USAF, Chief Executive Officer Professor Ahmed Bawa said considering that several national processes are underway to determine a more permanent and affordable solution to the fees issue, USAF is satisfied with the Minister’s advice based on a number of reasons.
Professor Bawa said as required by the Constitution, the interim measure facilitates in a small way progressive access to higher education for all, while a more permanent solution is being sought.
“That provision in the Constitution must be seen as the guiding light as we head into the future. Extended State subsidies to universities ensure that for those students who are at highest financial risk, there is effectively a 0% increase in their tuition fees for 2017. We applaud this step.
“The continuing growth in State spending on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme will help enormously to address the needs of the poorest students. All South Africans would agree that if a student is admitted to a university to study towards a qualification in higher education, there should not be any exclusion based on their financial condition.
“USAF is pleased that there is recognition of the fact that the Higher education price index is some 1.7% higher than the consumer price index. Had the suggested increase in tuition fees been based at the 6% level, this would have imperilled the financial sustainability of at least 16 universities in 2017,” said Professor Bawa.
He said USAF’s major concern now is to safeguard South Africa’s academic project for the 2016 and 2017 academic years, and beyond.
“This is a challenge for the entire sector and society more generally. We call on student leaders, academic and support staff, vice-chancellors and university executives and university chairs of council to work together to ensure that the academic year is not jeopardised,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
