University Funding Crisis in South Africa: Thousands of Students Face Academic Exclusion

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The university funding crisis in South Africa has reached a boiling point, with thousands of students facing academic exclusion due to historical debt. At Wits University, some students have been on hunger strike for almost two weeks, demanding that the university allow them to register despite their outstanding debt. The situation is not unique to Wits, as about 150,000 students at Unisa also face academic exclusion due to unsettled debt from previous years. The debt has carried over, causing an increase in their registration fees, making it difficult for them to afford their education.

A student who completed her honours degree last year said she wanted to pursue her master's degree but was not allowed to register as she had not settled her R120,000 debt. The student, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she was grateful for the leaders who have been starving themselves in protest, but it was unbearable to watch them suffer. The financial exclusion of poor black students is a major concern, as it undermines the transformative vision of the democratic society. The education system is supposed to be a tool for social mobility, but it has become a privilege reserved for the wealthy, while marginalized African students are left behind.

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has expressed concern over Wits University's lack of student engagement, particularly with regards to the registration process. The committee stressed that students are the primary stakeholders of universities and that university management should be readily available to meet with them. The committee also highlighted the necessity of studying the Higher Education Act clause-by-clause, as universities are leveraging their statutes to extend the term of office of Vice Chancellors. The universities are operating outside of the provisions of the Act, leading to non-compliance with the set terms for senior administrators. Some of the key concerns and demands of the students and the committee include:

Here are some of the key points and demands: * A meeting with the university council to address the demand that all unregistered students be allowed to register, regardless of their outstanding debt * Direct intervention from the Minister to protect the rights and interests of poor Black African students who continue to face financial exclusion * Review of the Higher Education Act to ensure that universities comply with the provisions of the Act * Implementation of corrective measures by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to ensure that no students have been defunded incorrectly * Concessions by the university to allow returning students to register despite outstanding debt, with the understanding that the chances of the university recouping those funds increase upon the students obtaining their qualification. The committee has welcomed the commitment made by the minister to visit Wits with the NSFAS team to engage with students' concerns, and it is hoped that a solution will be found soon to address the university funding crisis in South Africa.

The situation at Wits and other universities in South Africa is a reflection of the broader crisis facing higher education in the country. The funding model is unsustainable, and the government needs to intervene to ensure that all students have access to quality education, regardless of their financial background. The students on hunger strike are fighting for a just cause, and their demands should be taken seriously by the university management and the government. The future of the country depends on the ability of its citizens to access quality education, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that this right is protected.