KwaZulu-Natal ANC calls for free education for all
Proposal to be tabled at policy conference
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has joined the chorus for free tertiary education in the country ahead of the release of the report into the feasibility of free education.
Free education is one of the proposals adopted by the ANC at its three-day provincial general council at the University of Zululand which will be tabled at the party’s policy conference, starting on Friday.
On the same day‚ the commission of inquiry into higher education and training set up by President Jacob Zuma last year is expected to complete its work.
The commission‚ chaired by Judge Jonathan Heher‚ submitted its interim report to Zuma after completing only three of the proposed eight sets into which it had divided its work.
However‚ after the amendment of its terms of reference‚ the commission was given an extension to complete its work by this Friday.
In the interim report the commission said it had not arrived at a stage where it could identify and evaluate all sources of funding which might be made available for tuition fees‚ infrastructure and staff costs.
In his closing address, ANC provincial chairman Sihle Zikalala said free and quality education was the solution for a developmental state like SA.
While he didn’t endorse the #FeesMustFall campaign‚ Zikalala said: “We are firm in our view that free and quality education up to the first degree is the correct way to lead the skills revolution and build human capital needed for a developmental state.”
However‚ Zikalala did not elaborate on how free education could be funded and also did not give any details on when the party wanted this done.
Zuma has said free university education was possible but could not be done overnight.
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has said it would be impossible to have free education for everyone.
He said the government remained committed to realising free tertiary education for those who can’t afford it.
“You can’t in highly unequal capitalist societies [like South Africa] have higher education for all‚” said Nzimande. “If South Africa remains the society it is with the economic system it has I don’t see it happening in this context.”