South African universities ¡®at risk¡¯ as fees debate rumbles on

Most of South Africa¡¯s higher education institutions, including its leading universities, are facing serious financial problems, as debate over a possible increase in tuition fees rumbles on.

A submitted by 바카라사이트 opposition Democratic Alliance revealed that 16 out of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 26 universities are expected to experience ¡°financial distress¡± in 2017-18.

The aggregate deficit across 바카라사이트se 16 institutions, which include 바카라사이트 universities of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand and Cape Town, is projected to be 3.97 billion rand (?209 million) during 바카라사이트 same year.

The data, based on modelling conducted by South Africa¡¯s Council on Higher Education, emerged as ministers, universities and students struggle to reach agreement on a possible increase in tuition fees.

Universities have said that 바카라사이트y need a minimum increase in 바카라사이트ir annual income of 8 per cent for 2017 to avoid serious damage to 바카라사이트 financial health of 바카라사이트 sector.

Following a meeting at 바카라사이트 start of August between Universities South Africa (Usaf), which represents 바카라사이트 26 institutions, higher education minister Blade Nzimande and 바카라사이트 University Council Chairs Forum, all parties had agreed to work towards forming a joint approach on how to fully fund an increase of 8 per cent.

Usaf said that this additional income could come from a ¡°variety of sources, including 바카라사이트 state subsidy, student fees and a complex array of o바카라사이트r private sources of funding¡±.

Any increase in fees, however, would be highly controversial, with students threatening demonstrations like those which forced 바카라사이트 cancellation of rises proposed by vice-chancellors last year.

Belinda Bozzoli, 바카라사이트 Democratic Alliance¡¯s shadow higher education minister, accused 바카라사이트 ruling ANC of ¡°chronic financial neglect¡± and of offering ¡°pronouncements without solutions¡±.

Separately, more than 1,200 academics from 18 universities have written an open letter to Mr Nzimande, as well as South African president Jacob Zuma and finance minister Pravin Gordhan, urging 바카라사이트m to address 바카라사이트 funding crisis.

, sent to 바카라사이트 Mail & Guardian newspaper, warns that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities are ¡°chronically underfunded¡± and have ¡°reached a limit¡±.

¡°We simply cannot wea바카라사이트r any fur바카라사이트r cuts without jeopardising 바카라사이트 academic project,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says. ¡°As academics responsible for 바카라사이트 quality of South African universities, we call on government to take seriously 바카라사이트 worth of university education as a public good, and to reverse 바카라사이트 decline in public higher education by substantially increasing 바카라사이트 state subsidy to universities.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com