What Does 'Free Education for All' Really Mean?
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NOVEMBER 2015 3 DIANE PARKER school leavers with university entrance qualifications. HE call for affordable In 2012 the Minister higher education appointed a working group to linked to the #Fees Must What does consider the feasibility and cost Fall movement also has of fully implementing free higher Tanother face – the call education for the poor up to for free higher education for all. undergraduate level. Many people are calling for The working group suggested free education for the financially that free education for the poor needy, while others are calling ‘free was feasible, but that it would for free education for all.They require substantial amounts of argue that they were promised additional funding to implement. free higher education and that The quantum of funding government has not delivered. would be dependent on It is widely recognised that parameters that included high fees are a barrier to access agreeing on a definition of to higher education, and that education poverty. making higher education It recommended that a policy available to all South Africans dialogue should establish who qualify is an imperative. agreement and understanding of The Department of Higher these terms before any policy Education and Training (DHET) statement could be published. agrees that the time has come to for all’ The working group affirmed face the calls made by students the current cost sharing model and to provide clear explanations implemented by NSFAS was an of our policy positions. appropriate vehicle for the full This article outlines the implementation of free higher issues that must be considered education for the poor. and clarified to inform the really mean? Firstly, a student entering publication and introduction of a university is provided with an sustainable policy on fee-free interest-free loan while they are higher education in South Africa. studying. The Freedom Charter stated The interest only kicks in one in no uncertain terms: “The year after they have successfully Doors of Learning and Culture completed their studies, at which Shall be Opened!” It emphasised time they become a debtor. that: “Education shall be free, The interest calculated is way compulsory, universal and equal below the commercial lending for all children; Higher education rate. and technical training shall be In addition, if a student is opened to all by means of state successful and completes in allowances and scholarships minimum time, then 60% of the awarded on the basis of merit.” loan is effectively converted into Here, “free” and “compulsory” a bursary. refer squarely to basic However, if students never education. Higher education and actually benefit from the goods technical training, must “be of university education – that is, opened to all” – that is, made never find themselves in accessible though financial productive employment and so support. remain poor – they never pay The Constitution (1996) took back their loan and in effect forward this promise: “Everyone receive their entire university has the right (a) to a basic education free (of course on the education, including adult basic account of taxpayers). education; and (b) to further Some hard policy decisions education, which the state, have to be made in order to through reasonable measures, extend the scheme to cover all must make progressively qualifying students. available and accessible.” These decisions have to In other words, basic consider the poverty threshold education is a fundamental right, (poverty is a relative concept); while further education (i.e. what should be covered (full cost higher education and technical of study or only tuition and and vocational education and books); the amount of the loan training) must be made that should be converted to a progressively available and bursary; the interest rate to be accessible. charged once the student has What does this mean? completed; the percentage of To be “available” means the monthly income that should be system must grow to provide paid back into the scheme once sufficient spaces for study. the graduate is successfully “Accessible” means it should be employed; and the definition of affordable: individuals should not academic progress. be denied access on the basis of These parameters would Before and financial need. determine how many students following the Before and following the the scheme would support; and promulgation promulgation of the Constitution, a broad policy dialogue on these of the whether or not university issues is currently underway. Constitution, education should be made free Higher education cannot be whether or to all was extensively debated. free for all South Africans.Those ‘not university It was acknowledged that free. of subsidies, the private sector This was the basis for the who can afford it must pay. education university education is expensive The principled position through investments in research establishment of the National Significant attempts have been should be to deliver, and that, in a adopted in 1997, in line with the and scholarships, and families Student Financial Aid Scheme made to provide fee-free HE for made free to developing economy and Freedom Charter and the themselves, whose children will (NSFAS). the poorest South Africans all was fundamentally unequal society, it Constitution, is expressed in have access to the private goods The 2007 ANC Policy progressively through NSFAS, extensively was not only unaffordable but White Paper 3.This says that of productive engagement in the conference, supporting the and this needs to grow. debated. also not desirable. higher education is both a economy by virtue of their previous policy decision, At the same time there is a It was Implementing free education private and a public good. access to higher education. resolved that “free higher need to examine the overall acknowledged for all would further advantage In addition: “The knowledge A cost-sharing model was education for the poor up to funding for higher education to that university the wealthiest sections of and skills acquired in the course implemented to enable higher undergraduate level” must be ensure that quality higher education is society: the poor would in effect of achieving higher education education to expand and progressively implemented.This education that is affordable can expensive to subsidise the rich, and the qualifications generate become accessible to all. White was reiterated at the Mangaung be provided for all those who deliver, and quality of public higher education significant lifetime private Paper 3 was clear: “...The direct policy conference. qualify. that, in a would be severely compromised. benefits for successful students cost to students should be In 2011, Cabinet approved The goal should be affordable developing There is sufficient evidence as well as long-range social proportionate to their ability to substantial increases in the higher education for all South economy and that the only countries that can benefits for the public at large.” pay... Financial need should not NSFAS budget so that free Africans, with increased support fundamentally afford to offer fee-free higher The principle of cost sharing be an insuperable barrier to higher and technical education for growing numbers of those unequal education for all are wealthy, in higher education is an access and success in higher for the poor could be more who cannot afford university society, it was highly developed and have a important one in South Africa. education. vigorously pursued. fees. not only large tax base.It is debatable The costs of higher education “A realistic fee structure must However, the funds available, Dr Diane Parker is Deputy unaffordable whether fee-free higher should be shared between public therefore go hand-in-hand with a although substantially increased, Director-General: University but also not education can ever be labelled and private interests – sustainable programme of have not kept up with demand, Education in the Department of desirable. as free – in the end nothing is specifically the state in the form student financial assistance.” given increasing numbers of Higher Education and Training..