Fee increases should not be carried by poor students - DA

[schumi]

Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance has called on President Jacob Zuma to help ensure university fee increases do not affect poor students.

The DA’s Belinda Bozzoli said the party welcomed the reported acknowledgement by the Department of Higher Education that universities were autonomous and had legal rights and duties to determine their own fees for 2017.

City Press on Sunday reported that the higher education department had decided to allow tertiary institutions to determine their own fee increases for next year.

The fee increase, however, should not be carried by poor students, Bozzoli said on Monday.

"We, therefore, call on President Zuma to urgently make available the R2.5bn it will take to assist students with the 8% increase. We believe this amount can be found by reprioritising existing budgets and by getting our spending priorities right."

Universities were facing an uphill financial battle, she said, with no end in sight.

"Tertiary institutions are responsible for creating new generations of skilled labour, and the longer this crisis continues, the more damage we are compounding to our future economy."

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...d-not-be-carried-by-poor-students-da-20160905

 

[Albert Broco]

Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance has called on President Jacob Zuma to help ensure university fee increases do not affect poor students.

The DA’s Belinda Bozzoli said the party welcomed the reported acknowledgement by the Department of Higher Education that universities were autonomous and had legal rights and duties to determine their own fees for 2017.

City Press on Sunday reported that the higher education department had decided to allow tertiary institutions to determine their own fee increases for next year.

The fee increase, however, should not be carried by poor students, Bozzoli said on Monday.

"We, therefore, call on President Zuma to urgently make available the R2.5bn it will take to assist students with the 8% increase. We believe this amount can be found by reprioritising existing budgets and by getting our spending priorities right."

Universities were facing an uphill financial battle, she said, with no end in sight.

"Tertiary institutions are responsible for creating new generations of skilled labour, and the longer this crisis continues, the more damage we are compounding to our future economy."

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...d-not-be-carried-by-poor-students-da-20160905

He He He! Crazy white people!

 

[agentrfr]

As a student that worked and is working through varsity I say this: I agree that poor students shouldn’t pay. I don't think that any students should pay. Tertiary education is an investment for the country as a whole. It should not be seen as a burden on the economy. The government should fund most if not all of tertiary education. This model works for other countries’ universities (see Ireland, Sweden, Germany) – why not here? If after tertiary education and 10 years’ experience I’m making a few bar a month, I don’t mind part of my tax money going to fund a national fund, as long as I’m not taxed more than I would otherwise – I’ll take all my knowledge and experience and leave.

I get it - running a university is expensive. But you really, really shouldnt punish the students for it

 

[Drifter]

As a student that worked and is working through varsity I say this: I agree that poor students shouldn’t pay. I don't think that any students should pay. Tertiary education is an investment for the country as a whole. It should not be seen as a burden on the economy. The government should fund most if not all of tertiary education. This model works for other countries’ universities (see Ireland, Sweden, Germany) – why not here? If after tertiary education and 10 years’ experience I’m making a few bar a month, I don’t mind part of my tax money going to fund a national fund, as long as I’m not taxed more than I would otherwise – I’ll take all my knowledge and experience and leave.

I get it - running a university is expensive. But you really, really shouldnt punish the students for it

One suggestion, you might want to dial your expectations down a couple of notches there.

 

[HBee]

So if everybody goes to university, it is going to dilute the earning potential for everybody as everybody has a degree.

 

[Pienats]

One suggestion, you might want to dial your expectations down a couple of notches there.

I like the part where he doesn't want to pay more tax than otherwise. Does that mean people who didn't receive tertiary education should pay less tax then?

 

[schumi]

Drop bloated Cabinet, ‘vanity projects' to fund free higher education - EE

Cape Town - Government should look to its bloated Cabinet and "vanity projects" as a mechanism to increase its funding for higher education institutions, Equal Education (EE) said on Monday.

Addressing the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training in Cape Town, EE officers argued that universities could not, and must not, be expected to carry the burden of free tertiary education.

EE’s parliamentary officer Andile Cele said that government funding had gone down over the years and that tuition fees had overtaken third stream funding.

"A 0% increase on R150 000 is still a lot of money… If the burden is on the student, you will find that the majority of black people and poor people will not access higher education."

Evidence leader Advocate Kameshni Pillay said that the Treasury had already indicated the "cake" had only so many slices.

Cele smiled and referred to the country’s large Cabinet.

"You have deputy, deputy directors, you have acting acting director generals. If you streamline those positions, you will have funding. There is money when you look for it."

"SAA; Eskom are always looking for bailouts. The stadiums [for the World Cup], we found the money."

Commissioner Leah Khumalo asked what they meant by government urgently reviewing so-called "vanity projects".

Cele replied: "Remodelling the president’s houses and certain officers getting private jets."

EE recommended that a determined state would also examine personal taxation, which could be levied for the top 10% of taxpayers.

It felt no student, who met the requirements for university admission, should be excluded for financial reasons.

'Problem starts in Grade 1'

EE said there was a systematic problem, with challenges in basic education following black students into higher education.

"The problem starts in Grade 1; Grade 2 - in the ECD (early childhood development sector). They spend eight hours a day drawing and colouring in," said Cele.

"Your white counterpart that goes to an ECD centre in Rondebosch will be building blocks and counting ‘1,2,3’. That difference is already established in the early years."

Assuming money was found, Pillay asked whether higher education should be prioritised or whether basic education or other departments were perhaps needier.

Cele replied that all departments needed money, but that education was very vital. Sometimes it was not the funding that was a problem, but the way it was used.

She argued that the higher education sector had more autonomy.

"If you give them the money, you trust they are able to handle the additional allocations."

The Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training was established following the Fees Must Fall protests, which demanded a 0% fee increase.

The first set of hearings was for the commission to receive an overview of the relevant issues from various organisations.

Hearings will also take place in Bloemfontein and Kimberley this week.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...cts-to-fund-free-higher-education-ee-20160905

 

[McSack]

As a student that worked and is working through varsity I say this: I agree that poor students shouldn’t pay. I don't think that any students should pay. Tertiary education is an investment for the country as a whole. It should not be seen as a burden on the economy. The government should fund most if not all of tertiary education. This model works for other countries’ universities (see Ireland, Sweden, Germany) – why not here? If after tertiary education and 10 years’ experience I’m making a few bar a month, I don’t mind part of my tax money going to fund a national fund, as long as I’m not taxed more than I would otherwise – I’ll take all my knowledge and experience and leave.

I get it - running a university is expensive. But you really, really shouldnt punish the students for it

Yes but there isn't enough tax money available here to support free uni for all. We first off don't have single digit unemployment and half our tax payers are employed by the government in any case so not really generating tax.

I personally don't think everyone is suited to go to varsity ... and this is borne out by the massive 1st year drop-out rate

 

[agentrfr]

One suggestion, you might want to dial your expectations down a couple of notches there.

It's a hyperbole (although at current inflation rates who knows what CPI will be in 10 years time)

I like the part where he doesn't want to pay more tax than otherwise. Does that mean people who didn't receive tertiary education should pay less tax then?

Nope, you should pay tax irrespective of what your circumstances were - only what they are now is important. What I mean is do not tax someone more simply because they went to university. If on the upper end of the tax bracket is something like 40%, I don't have an issue changing it to 42% and that extra 2% going straight to funding universities (this is an example); so long as everyone in that bracket is taxed the same.

 

[lucifir]

to be honest, the funds are probably adequate, its just that they lowered the bar/standard so much that almost anyone gets into university, so obviously there will not be enough money to go around for everyone.
If they just used reasonable entry requirements, this would not be a problem.

Also, why should tertiary be free when primary and secondary is not.

Damn freeloaders

 

[agentrfr]

So if everybody goes to university, it is going to dilute the earning potential for everybody as everybody has a degree.

If everyone has a degree (inferring that there is an overall increase in education), doesnt that make your national workforce far more efficient?

Yes but there isn't enough tax money available here to support free uni for all. We first off don't have single digit unemployment and half our tax payers are employed by the government in any case so not really generating tax.

I personally don't think everyone is suited to go to varsity ... and this is borne out by the massive 1st year drop-out rate

I agree with you on both points. It's just some wishful thinking on my part and reality is always more complicated than ideals.

Doesn't only have to be universities, technicons and artisanal skills development places need funding too. I also think there must be some control / mitigation against freeloaders. If they haven't demonstrated aptitude, give the opportunity to somone else.

 

[Mila]

What is poor?

 

[agentrfr]

to be honest, the funds are probably adequate, its just that they lowered the bar/standard so much that almost anyone gets into university, so obviously there will not be enough money to go around for everyone.
If they just used reasonable entry requirements, this would not be a problem.

Also, why should tertiary be free when primary and secondary is not.

Damn freeloaders

Primary and secondary should be paid by government too. All education should be (or at least heavily subsidised)

What is poor?

Exactly

 

[Mila]

Exactly what?
How do who decide who is poor and who not?

Democracy , everyone is equal so everyone should be subsidized equally.
You also have the right to forfeit it.

 

[daveza]

Everyone should pay for their first year.

IF they pass then look at some kind of subsidy for the next year.

Way too many dropping out after year one and never paying back whatever loan they may have received.

 

[Lupus]

So if everybody goes to university, it is going to dilute the earning potential for everybody as everybody has a degree.

This is what is happening in the States, as every child "must" go to College

 

[Mila]

Everyone should pay for their first year.

IF they pass then look at some kind of subsidy for the next year.

Way too many dropping out after year one and never paying back whatever loan they may have received.

This I agree with. TUT already has this in place for some courses. I know engineering does. When you pass your first year they start paying you back when you do good.

 

[Lupus]

Primary and secondary should be paid by government too. All education should be (or at least heavily subsidised)



Exactly

Government schools are already heavily subsidized (or something), even some of the best government schools in Johannesburg charge around R900 a month. Also they cannot remove students who don't pay.

 

[Mila]

This is what is happening in the States, as every child "must" go to College

Beautiful Ukranian doctors dancing on oom Lollie's tables.h

 

[agentrfr]

Exactly what?
How do who decide who is poor and who not?

You don't. It is rhetorical. You shouldn't have to pay for the education - it is the government investing in its own citizens. Nobody should be required to fork out life savings or indeed pay for education - that's insane as far as I'm concerned.