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S. African president appoints commission to study feasibility of free higher education

Xinhua, January 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

President Jacob Zuma on Thursday appointed a Commission of Inquiry into higher education funding and other issues amid a new wave of student protests over tuition fees.

The commission, chaired by Justice Jonathan Arthur Heher, will report on and make recommendations on the feasibility of making higher education and training fee-free in South Africa, the Presidency said.

The commission will take into consideration the multiple facets of financial sustainability, analysing and the assessing the role of government together with its agencies, students, institutions, business sector and employers in funding higher education and training.

Under a presidential decree, the commission must complete its work within eight months and must submit its final report to Zuma within two months after the date on which the commission completes its work.

All organs of state, institutions and stakeholders are required to cooperate fully with the commission, presidential spokesperson Bogani Majola said.

Zuma announced the establishment of the commision as the new school year started, marred by the re-eruption of student protests at several major universities.

The protests at one point shut down the Wits University in Johannesburg and the University of South Africa's Sunnyside Campus.

The protests raised fears that similar protests would also take place at other institutions of higher learning across the country, as what had happened last year when students took to streets in what was called the "FeesMustFall" campaign in protest against fee increases.

Last October, Zuma met with vice-chancellors, chairpersons of university councils, presidents of student representative councils and the representatives of student organisations to discuss concerns with regard to fee increases and funding of higher education.

The president announced thereafter that the government would lead a process that will look at broader issues affecting the funding of higher education, cognisant of other endeavours in this regard. Endit