Many of the individuals I know in the industry had to Google Nobuhle Nkabane’s name when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her as the minister of higher education on July 3, 2024. Since August 2021, Dr. Nkabane has served as the deputy minister of energy and mineral resources.
Nkabane comes into a political landscape that is prepared for fresh leadership and where key players are eager, able, and ready to collaborate with her. Nkabane’s nomination has been well received by institutions in South Africa, an organization that speaks for the nation’s 26 public institutions and has a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing the industry.
Nkabane will need this type of assistance since she takes on a challenging portfolio in her new role. Even with the gains of the last three decades, racial disparities persist in the results of higher education and the labor market. Academic jobs have seen a modest shift in demographics. Institutional inequality has a long history.
Overseeing a sector comprising approximately 1.3 million students in public and private higher education institutions (with over 80% enrolled in public universities), approximately 600,000 students in public Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and 86,000 students in private colleges, and approximately 143,000 students in community colleges are the minister and her team, according to government statistics.
Serving for many years as a government education official in jobs about management support and governance in higher education, I had the opportunity to see firsthand some of the problems facing the industry. To pursue a career in academia as a higher education policy expert, I left the Department of Higher Education and Training in 2023.
I propose that the minister has to provide immediate attention to three major areas of concern. She has to start by restoring confidence in the higher education system as a whole. Second, she must advocate for consistent and long-term support for the system of higher education and training. Thirdly, she has to supervise the relevant capacity-building process across the post-secondary education and training system.
She won’t have to start from scratch with her squad. Experts from both inside and outside the government have produced the policies that can define the kind of higher education and training system that South Africa needs. These policies are now in place. Now is the time to make some difficult decisions. Rather than creating new planning task forces, the minister needs to allow current policy objectives sufficient time and substantial assistance to develop. If the industry is not given the required funds and ability to implement new wish lists, it will become even more fragile.
restoring faith
There is less faith in colleges throughout the world. The same is true in South Africa, and it may be unavoidable in a society where inequality and unemployment are severe, particularly if the system of higher education is still unjust.
A 2022 academic analysis of 25 years of policy modifications characterized the years after 2016 as “calling the system to account.” They contended that the nation was falling short in the important area of equality, which is higher education quality.
The student-led #feesmustfall demonstrations and associated events, the COVID epidemic that exposed ongoing disparities in higher education, and the contentious implementation of a new student finance policy in 2018 are other incidents that have undermined confidence in the system.
Continue reading: Despite having aided millions of students, South Africa’s national student financial assistance program is in peril. Here’s why
Another significant betrayal of confidence in the system has been the National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS) major administrative shortcomings.
The minister is responsible for making sure the program is working with institutions and fulfilling its main objectives. It has to collaborate with and operate within the ecosystem of higher education and training, where shared responsibility is feasible. A strong bond for systemic confidence in higher education would be an efficient, reliable, and successful financial assistance program.
Long-term, reliable financing
Like so many other things in South Africa, post-school institutions are facing dire financial difficulties. The core funding provided to institutions increased at a pace much slower than inflation between 2019 and 2023, even though the Department of Higher Education and Training’s budget expanded at a rate greater than most other government agencies. This was because the majority of the cash was allocated to supporting NSFAS.
The cash for the program only returns to universities in the form of tuition fees in around 50% of cases. It doesn’t address the root causes of student debt. Rather, the bulk of student debt—which is mostly the result of students who are unable to pay tuition and do not meet the requirements for financial help or other bursaries—must be written off by colleges.
A comprehensive student financial aid strategy that would facilitate entry to various higher education levels and provide assistance for varying degrees of financial need is absent from South Africa. Former Minister Blade Nzimande unveiled a new loan program in January 2024 to help students who fall into the “missing middle” category—those who don’t qualify for financial assistance yet can’t afford it. However, no allocations have been made, and it’s unclear whether the new plan will be sustainable.
Read more: Both the affluent and the poor may attend universities in South Africa, but what about the middle class?
The system is being strained by more than just student financial assistance. Additionally, there has been a significant cutback in infrastructure and funds designated for systemic transformation objectives (e.g., staff transformation, student success programs, and new infrastructure construction). There are tough political decisions to be made about the allocation of funds.
Beyond just academic institutions
Supervising “an integrated, coordinated and articulated post-school system,” as defined by the National Plan for Post-School Education and Training, is one of the minister’s most significant responsibilities.
This serves as a reminder that not all higher learning takes place in academic institutions. For both students who graduate from high school and those who drop out early, there has to be a variety of excellent possibilities.
Read more: The economy of South Africa is suffering from a skills deficit; social circumstances and policies must encourage their growth.
Funding capacity development of the nation’s nine community colleges and 50 TVET institutions is required to implement the plan.
Over the last several decades, there have been almost continual developments in the TVET sector. It is detrimental to the universities since there is not enough money or genuine time given for these advancements to grow.
During her tenure, the minister will have to make difficult choices. However, there is promise that she can foster cooperation and enhance the application of policies based on mutual trust between herself, the Department of Higher Education and Training, and post-secondary educational institutions.