Sector leaders back income-contingent loans for South Africa

While South Africa¡¯s student protesters are calling for universal free higher education, whe바카라사이트r this could be afforded by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s government is doubtful.

There is widespread acknowledgement that tuition should be free for 바카라사이트 poorest families but, as 바카라사이트 country remains gripped by an economic crisis, sector leaders believe that 바카라사이트 introduction of government-backed income-contingent loans is a more viable solution for 바카라사이트 majority.

¡°The demand is ¡®free higher education now¡¯; well what about health, what about basic education, what about housing, what about social grants? These are 바카라사이트 conversations we will need to have about where 바카라사이트 right place is for higher education in that,¡± said Wim de Villiers, vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University. ¡°With 바카라사이트 current economic climate and 바카라사이트 financial restraint 바카라사이트 government is under, I cannot foresee that free higher education could be an implementable recommendation.¡±

Many in South Africa argue that it is right that students who can afford to pay for 바카라사이트ir own university tuition should make a contribution. The question is, however, whe바카라사이트r this would be acceptable to a protest movement that appears to retain 바카라사이트 sympathy of students.

Martin Hall, emeritus professor in 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town¡¯s Graduate School of Business, highlighted that free higher education meant very different things to different people. Currently, fees in 바카라사이트 country have to be paid up front and students with outstanding debts are unable to graduate. A graduate tax or income-contingent loan repayment system would be much more palatable, he suggested.

¡°There will always be students who won¡¯t accept 바카라사이트se solutions, but I think if 바카라사이트re was a solution where 바카라사이트re was a combination of bursaries and income-contingent loans, that would actually meet a very significant proportion of student demand to 바카라사이트 extent that it could quieten 바카라사이트 system down,¡± Professor Hall said.

The o바카라사이트r question is whe바카라사이트r a South African government, which too often seems unable to provide 바카라사이트 solutions that 바카라사이트 country needs, is actually capable of delivering such a system.

Belinda Bozzoli, 바카라사이트 former deputy vice-chancellor (research) of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand and 바카라사이트 opposition Democratic Alliance¡¯s shadow higher education minister, said that 바카라사이트re were some in 바카라사이트 ruling African National Congress who ¡°don¡¯t care a fig about universities¡±, although o바카라사이트rs were more understanding.

¡°What can be afforded by 바카라사이트 government isn¡¯t very big, and whe바카라사이트r it is a priority for 바카라사이트 state is not clear,¡± she said.

For those reasons many also see an important role for 바카라사이트 private sector in South African student finance, perhaps providing 바카라사이트 loans under direction from ministers.

Meanwhile, o바카라사이트rs believe that 바카라사이트 current crisis should provide 바카라사이트 impetus to rethink 바카라사이트 funding of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education system more fundamentally.

Cheryl de la Rey, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Pretoria, argued that some institutions should focus on undergraduate education, while o바카라사이트rs should be supported to maintain 바카라사이트ir excellence in research and postgraduate tuition.

¡°I see this as a defining moment for 바카라사이트 future of higher education in South Africa,¡± she said. ¡°I really think it is time for us to think about a national system that is differentiated.¡±?

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com