Hundreds of thousands of students will enter the higher education system during the 2024 academic year. This increasing number of new students embarking on qualifications at South Africa’s public universities has raised concerns about whether institutions can handle the constant influx of new students.
Professor of Education at Stellenbosch University, Jonathan Jansen believes the increasing pressure on universities due to record numbers of students seeking admission and financial aid.
The problem is not turning out more students with weak passes, the problem is making sure that the foundations of Education where the problem is real.
Jansen also contends that there is a need for better basic education to build the foundation for students in preparation for higher education. He also criticised the government's handling of the education system and the inefficiencies in spending on higher education.
The system is not stabilising, the system is crumbling at its foundations.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Minister Blade Nzimande proudly proclaimed that public spending on education has increased greatly under this current government.
The minister explained that in 2019/20, the government investment in education constituted 22.7% of total government spending and 7.2% of GDP. This surpasses UNESCO's suggested benchmarks of 15% to 20% of public spending and 4% to 6% of GDP.
More than R40 billion of the DHET’s budget will be given to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to provide comprehensive funding to poor and working-class students. This financial support will be provided in the form of bursaries and student loans.
While this spending on students is significant, due to budget cuts, fewer students will benefit from the financial aid offered by NSFAS.
Despite the challenges, Jansen acknowledges the potential for South African universities to excel in research and innovation if properly supported.
You're quite right that there is a cost to science and scientific discovery when we become involved in these seasonal dilemmas when it comes to simple things like admission.
Wayne Duvenhage, CEO of OUTA, has raised serious concerns about corruption in higher education, likening it to a "tsunami" surpassing even the levels seen during the Zondo Commission investigations.
There's a tsunami of corruption emerging in higher education. It's worse than the corruption we heard about during the Zondo Commission.
Duvenhage points to irregularities, including ghost learners and fake qualifications, as evidence of systemic corruption. They suggest a coordinated effort behind these malpractices and call for a thorough investigation by independent bodies like the SIU.
