commissioners Gregory Ally, Justice Jonathan Arthur Heher and Leah Thabisile Khumalo at the hearings in Cape Town yesterday. Photo: Zoe Schaver
6 September 2016
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training heard arguments yesterday in favour of fee-free education.
At the Centre for the Book in Cape Town, representatives from Equal Education, the National Research Foundation, the University of the Western Cape, and the Centre for Creative Education testified before the commission, which is scheduled to report on and make recommendations about the feasibility of fee-free education and training to President Jacob Zuma by June next year.
Some groups, such as the CCE, pointed out that fee-free public education might disadvantage private institutions, while others, such as Equal Education, argued for fee-free education exclusively for poor students to reduce the disparity in opportunity for students from townships and rural areas.
Students from the Fees Must Fall protest movement were also present at the hearing and held up signs declaring the commission a “farce”. One student who asked not to be named said,:”Education is a right, not a privilege.”
The hearing continues today for its second and final day in the city.
Listen to the recording below for some of the arguments given on why access to higher education is a priority.