The views of commerce students regarding "free" higher education in South Arica

  • E. Bitzer Stellenbosch University
  • E. De Jager Stellenbosch University

Abstract

At the end of 2015, student protests (demanding ‘free’ higher education) took place at most South African universities. An official answer from the South African government regarding ‘free higher education’ is still being awaited. In the meantime, a zero present increase in university fees for 2016 and an increase of not more than 8% for 2017 was announced. South Africa is known for expensive higher education as tuition fees increase every year. Many students struggle to fund their studies, while government subsidies to higher education institution decrease. The question that remains is: Will it be feasible for South Africa to implement ‘free higher education’?

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of commerce students at one South African university regarding the feasibility of ‘free’ higher education. A questionnaire was used as research instrument which consisted of Likert-scale statements regarding general ideas about ‘free higher education’ as well as open-ended questions asking students about the definition of ‘free higher education’ and the effects on the South African economy.

The results proposed that even though most students were aware of the students protests regarding ‘free higher education’ that took place, not all of them agreed with it. The respondents realised that it is not feasible for South Africa to implement ‘free higher education’ at this moment in time.

Despite the views of these commerce students, if ‘free higher education’ were considered as a viable option in South Africa, implementation considerations should be examined. These issues will be discussed in a follow-up study.

 

Author Biographies

E. Bitzer, Stellenbosch University
Centre for Higher and Adult Education
E. De Jager, Stellenbosch University
School of Accountancy

References

Acheampong, P. and Kayange, J.J. 2016. University education in Ghana: A privilege or a right? International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 6(3): 17-25.

Allen, W.R. 2005. A forward glance in the mirror: Diversity challenged – access, equity and success in higher education.

Educational Researcher, 34: 18–23.

Altbach, P.G. 2015a. Higher education and the WTO: Globalization Run Amok. Accessed 12 September 2016: http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/ihe/article/view/6593.

Altbach, P.G. 2015b. The costs and benefits of world-class universities. Accessed 12 September 2016: https://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/ihe/article/viewFile/7381/6578.

Barr, N. 2004. Higher education funding. Oxford review of economic policy, 20(2): 264-283.

Berger, M.C. and Kostal, T. 2002. Financial resources, regulation, and enrollment in US public higher education. Economics of Education Review, 21(2): 101-110.

Bitzer, E. M. 2010. Some myths on equity and access in higher education. South African Journal of Higher Education, 24(2): 298-312.

Bloch, G. 2015. Free education is a worthy goal, but South Africa isn’t ready for it yet. Accessed 3 September 2016: http://theconversation.com/free-education-is-a-worthy-goal-but-south-africa-isnt-ready-for-it-yet-49414.

Bozzoli, B. 2015. Behind the university funding crisis. Accessed 3 March 2017: http://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/behind-the-university-funding-crisis.

British Council. 2015. Student perceptions of employability and inclusive development: South Africa. Accessed 2 April 2016: https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/2.5_student-perceptions-of-employability-inclusivity.pdf.

Calitz, E. and Fourie, J. 2016. The historically high cost of tertiary education in South Africa. Stellenbosch Economic Working Papers: 02/16. Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch & Bureau of Economic Research.

Christie, P. 2010. The complexity of human rights in global times: The case of the right to education in South Africa. International Journal of Educational Development, 30(1): 3-11.

Cloete, N. 2015. The flawed ideology of ‘free higher education’. Accessed 3 September 2016: http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20151104111825416.

Cloete, N. 2016. Free higher education: Another self-destructive South African Policy. Paper published by the Centre for Higher Education Trust.

Davids, N. and Waghid, Y. 2016. #FessMustFall: History of South African student protests reflects inequality’s grip. Accessed 12 January 2017: https://mg.co.za/article/2016-10-10-feesmustfall-history-of-south-african-student-protests-reflects-inequalitys-grip.

De Gayardon, A. and Bernasconi, A. 2016. Chilean Universities: Not so tuition-free after all. Accessed 3 April 2017: http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/ihe/article/view/9372

DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training). 2012. Report of the working group on fee free university education for the poor in South Africa. Accessed 3 September 2016: http://www.dhet.gov.za/SiteAssets/Fees%20Must%20Fall/287700266-Final-Draft-Report-of-the-Working-Group-on-Fee-Free.pdf.

eNCA. 2015. Nzimande says no money for free tertiary education. Accessed 3 September 2016: http://www.enca.com/south-africa/nzimande-says-no-money-free-tertiary-education.

Essop, R. 2016. Commission of inquiry to look into feasibility of free higher education. Accessed 12 January 2016: http://ewn.co.za/2016/01/14/Zuma-officially-appoints-commission-of-inquiry-for-free-higher-education.

HESA (Higher Education South Africa). 2008. Tuition Fees: Higher Education Institutions in South Africa. Accessed 14 January 2016: http://www.justice.gov.za/commissions/FeesHET/docs/2008-HESA-Report-TuitionFeesInSA.pdf.

Hull, G. 2015. Free university education is not the route to social justice. Accessed 3 September 2016: http://theconversation.com/free-university-education-is-not-the-route-to-social-justice-49755.

Johnstone, D.B. 2003. Cost sharing in higher education: Tuition, financial assistance, and accessibility in a comparative perspective. Sociologický časopis/Czech Sociological Review, 39(3): 351-374.

Johnstone, D.B. 2004. The economics and politics of cost sharing in higher education: comparative perspectives. Economics of education review, 23(4): 403-410.

Langa, P., Wangenge-Ouma, G., Jungblut, J. and Cloete, N. 2016. South Africa and the illusion of free higher education. Accessed 14 April 2016: http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20160223145336908.

Majozi, P. 2016. Quality education isn’t free. Expect a fallout, either way. Accessed 16 March 2017: http://www.biznews.com/thought-leaders/2016/09/28/phumlani-majozi-quality-education-isnt-free-expect-a-fallout-either-way.

Makou, G., Wilkinson, K. and Bhardwaj, V. 2016. Factsheet: Funding & the changing face of SA’s public universities. Accessed 3 March 2017: https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-funding-changing-face-sas-public-universities.

Moerane, B. 2015. SA far from free tertiary education: Economist. Accessed 3 September 2016: http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/76b40b004b239e5bbb38fb445cadceaa/SA-far-from-free-tertiary-education:-Economist-20153112.

Neill, C., 2009. Tuition fees and the demand for university places. Economics of Education Review, 28(5): 561-570.

Nell, C.E. and Cant, M.C. 2014. Determining student perceptions regarding the most important service features and overall satisfaction with the service quality of a higher education institution. Management: Journal of Contemporary Management Issues, 19(2): 63-87.

Ngolovoi, M.S. 2008. Financing higher education in Kenya: Student perceptions and experiences. Tertiary Education and Management, 14(2): 141-150.

Odhav, K., 2009. South African post-apartheid Higher Education policy and its marginalisations: 1994-2002. SA–eDUC Journal, 6(1): 33-57.

Ouma, G.W. 2007. Reducing resource dependence on government funding: the case of public universities in Kenya and South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Cape Town.

Parker, D. 2015. What does “free education for all” really mean? Accessed 15 March 2017: https://www.dhet.gov.za/SiteAssets/Latest%20News/Independent%20Thinking%20Second%20Edition/dhetpage3.pdf.

Pilane, P. 2016. Investigation into fee-free university education launched. Accessed 14 March 2016: https://mg.co.za/article/2016-01-20-investigation-into-fee-free-varsity-education-launched.

Phungo, R. 2015. University fees: Free higher education is possible in South Africa. Accessed 3 September 2016: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2015-10-21-university-fees-free-higher-education-is-possible-in-south-africa/#.WRG5qOWGPcs.

Raborife, M. 2016. Fee-free universities would reduce quality of tertiary education, says CEO. Accessed 3 April 2017: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/fee-free-universities-would-reduce-quality-of-tertiary-education-says-ceo-20160413.

SABC News. 2016. Free education for all not feasible: Manana. Accessed 14 April 2016: http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/cd65af004c50f448a2cdbe8be7d9f0df/Free-education-for-all-not-feasible:-Manana--20160407.

Singh, M., 2001. Reinserting the ‘public good’ into higher education transformation. Kagisano Higher Education Discussion Series, 1: 8-18.

Smolentseva, A. 2015. Will there be free higher education in Russia? Accessed 3 September 2016: https://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/ihe/article/viewFile/7485/6680.

Stuurman, S. 2016. Higher education not a basic right: Education Department. Accessed 16 March 2016: http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/a5e5b8004e7d132698509c5e4966ada6/Higher-education-n.

Teferra, D. 2016. Why free education is a folly in an unequal society. Accessed 2 December 2016: http://theconversation.com/why-free-education-is-a-folly-in-an-unequal-society-54515.

The Library of Congress. 2017. Constitutional right to an Education: South Africa. Accessed 16 March 2017: https://www.loc.gov/law/help/constitutional-right-to-an-education/southafrica.php.

Vally, S., Motala, E., Naidoo, L., Hlatshwayo, M. and Maharajh, R. 2016. Quality, free university education is necessary – and possible. Accessed 9 February 2016: https://mg.co.za/article/2016-01-28-quality-free-university-education-is-necessary-and-possible.

Vandenberghe, V. (2005). Free Higher Education. Regressive Transfer or Implicit Loan? Discussion Paper 31. UC Louvain, Departement des Sciences Economiques.

Wangenge-Ouma, G. 2012. Tuition fees and the challenge of making higher education a popular commodity in South Africa. Higher Education, 64(6): 831-844.

Wangenge-Ouma, G. and Cloete, N. 2008. Financing higher education in South Africa: Public funding, non-government revenue and tuition fees. South African Journal of Higher Education, 22(4): 906-919.

Wild, F. and Mbatha,A. 2015. Zuma says free university education is possible. Accessed 3 September 2016: http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Zuma-says-free-university-education-is-possible-20151028.

Wilson-Strydom, M. and Fongwa, S.N., 2012. A Profile of Higher Education in Southern Africa. Volume 1: A Regional Perspective: 8-18.

Zusman, A. 2005. Challenges facing higher education in the

twenty-first century. American higher education in the twenty-first century: Social, political, and economic challenges, 2: 115-160.

Published
2020-11-10
How to Cite
Bitzer, E., and E. De Jager. 2020. “The Views of Commerce Students Regarding "free" Higher Education in South Arica”. South African Journal of Higher Education 32 (4), 12-36. https://doi.org/10.20853/32-4-2436.
Section
General Articles