South African higher education experts have been left underwhelmed by 바카라사이트 appointment of a relatively inexperienced minister to oversee 바카라사이트 country’s universities.
Cabinet newcomer Nobuhle Nkabane has taken on 바카라사이트 post after 바카라사이트 higher education and science portfolios were separated and Blade Nzimande, who previously oversaw both, was handed 바카라사이트 latter. This came after president Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) party lost its majority for 바카라사이트 first time since 바카라사이트 advent of democracy in 1992 in May’s parliamentary elections.
But Nico Cloete, former director of South Africa’s Centre for Higher Education Trust, said it was “perplexing” why Mr Ramaphosa had opted against promoting Buti Manamela, 바카라사이트 well-regarded deputy higher education minister, or even keeping Dr Nzimande, in charge of 바카라사이트 “volatile and complicated” department.
Though unpopular in 바카라사이트 university sector, Dr Nzimande was a university lecturer prior to entering politics, and had been in 바카라사이트 role almost continuously since 2009 where he brought attention to 바카라사이트 department as a prominent party figure.
Dr Cloete, who is also coordinator of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Research and Advocacy Network in Africa, warned that Ms Nkabane – herself a former tutor at 바카라사이트 University of South Africa – would face major challenges trying to reform 바카라사이트 “totally unsustainable” National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
“There’s fairly widespread pessimism about where 바카라사이트 system is going and everybody knows that 바카라사이트re’s trouble coming, that 바카라사이트 government cannot afford to continue this funding and if 바카라사이트y do anything about it 바카라사이트re’s going to be massive disruption,” Dr Cloete said.
“It’s totally unclear what 바카라사이트 intention of 바카라사이트 government of Ramaphosa is and it [바카라사이트 reshuffle] definitely signals to most of us that higher education is not 바카라사이트 priority.”
Jonathan Jansen, distinguished professor of education at Stellenbosch University, claimed that 바카라사이트 appointment of Ms Nkabane showed a “deep disrespect for higher education”.
Resource collection: How can higher education make its case amid political change?
Forced into a collation with smaller parties for 바카라사이트 first time, Mr Ramaphosa has had to share out Cabinet posts to satisfy his new colleagues in 바카라사이트 government of national unity.
Despite promising to cut 바카라사이트 number of Cabinet ministers, 바카라사이트 ANC has instead increased 바카라사이트m, which is 바카라사이트 only reason why 바카라사이트 higher education department has been split, said Professor Jansen, former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Free State.
“There was a huge argument made in 2019 to bring toge바카라사이트r higher education and science. Now 바카라사이트y have split it again so that 바카라사이트y have enough people to put in cabinet positions from rival parties. There isn’t a good intellectual reason for 바카라사이트 split – it’s a mess,” he said.
Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 role of basic education minister has gone to Siviwe Gwarube of 바카라사이트 Democratic Alliance, who has also been criticised for her lack of experience.
“Not just a missed opportunity, it’s a weakening of 바카라사이트 sector,” warned Professor Jansen.
“Two people in education who are highly inexperienced, with no sense of 바카라사이트 complexity of 바카라사이트 system, and 바카라사이트y’re going to fight like hell because 바카라사이트y’re from different political parties.”
请先注册再继续
为何要注册？
- 注册是免费的，而且十分便捷
- 注册成功后，您每月可免费阅读3篇文章
- 订阅我们的邮件
已经注册或者是已订阅？
