CAPE PENISULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

BELLVILLE CAMPUS

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

ND : CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

STUDENT NAME : Richardt Johan Loots

STUDENT NO. : 214196585
SUBJECT : Management Skills : Application
SUBJECT CODE : ENM101S
LECTURER : Dumisani Hlongwane
DUE DATE : 31 August 2016

% Mark
Background
 Introduction 10 4
 Aim/Purpose
Content 15 8
Conclusion 10 5
Reference page 3 1
Overall impression
 Cover page 1 1
 Table of contents 3 1
 Report structure 2 1
 Report writing (Coherence) 2 2
 In-text referencing 4 2
TOTAL: 50 25
Contents
1.Introduction .......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.1 The Right to basic Education ......................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Purpose of the report ................................................................................................................... 1
2.Education, a right or a privilege in South Africa?................................................................................. 2
3.Financial feasibility of free education in South Africa ......................................................................... 2
4.Possible sources of funding for free quality education in South Africa .............................................. 3
5.Using education as a tool to reduce poverty in South Africa .............................................................. 3
6.Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 4
7.Refereces ............................................................................................................................................. 5

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1. Introduction

Education is one of the most valuable things to a growing mind and can shape future thoughts and
actions of adults. The difference between a child or person having an education or not can have
various effects and can ultimately determine if a person will have a positive or negative influence on
our world.

Education sparks enthusiasm and expands thinking, this drives people to strive for more, learn more.
To strive for a better future, a better world. To leave the planet in a better state than in which one
entered, for the progression of all mankind?

South Africa currently has learners countrywide are denied the right to basic education because of
the levying of school fees and other educational charges. This practice is prevalent in spite of the
international obligation imposed on the South African government to provide free primary
education. This report examines the exact nature of this obligation and the possibility of free overall
education, the financial feasibility of free education and if free education can be used as a tool to
reduce poverty

1.1 The Right to basic Education

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Article 26, Which was adopted in
1948, ‘’Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and
fundamental stages.’’ (United Nations 1948) This can be loosely translated to free basic education
for all.

This does not state that Tertiary education should also be free to all. The UDHR states that,
‘‘Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall
be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.’’ (United Nations 1948)

Although the UDHR is not legally binding, and is more morally binding and seen as common
standards of achievement for all peoples of all nations ,Section 29 (1) (a & b) of the Constitution of
South Africa, 1996 (Chapter 2 – Bill of Rights) clearly states that ‘‘Everyone has the right to a basic
education, including adult basic education’’

It also states, similarly to that of the UDHR, that ‘‘Everyone has the right to further education, which
the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.’’

Education is ‘‘the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers
of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature
life’’ (Anon, 2016)

1.2 Purpose of the report

The purpose of this report is to determine if education is a right or a privilege in South Africa and
whether or not it education should be free. It will also explore the possibility of free quality
education for all and how it can possibly be funded considering the financial climate South Africa is
currently experiencing and whether or not said free education can be used as a tool to reduce
poverty in South Africa.

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2.Education, a right or a privilege in South Africa?

As seen in section 1.1 we can establish that elementary or basic education is in fact a right in South
Africa ,stated by the UDHR and the constitution of South Africa.

For Tertiary education it also states in the constitution that higher education is a right which the
state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.

So it is a fact that Education in South Africa is a right but as we can see in recent developments of
the Fees must fall campaign that students are struggling with paying their fees for tertiary education
and is leaning more towards a privilege as poorer students are unable to financially support their
studies.

Many students take out loans from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme(NSFAS) which then
has to be paid back, by increasing fees students will have a higher student loan to repay, thus the
fees must fall campaign started.

3.Financial feasibility of free education in South Africa

Quality university education is expensive to deliver and in a developing economy and fundamentally
unequal society, it is not only unaffordable but also undesirable.

Implementing free education for all would further advantage the wealthiest sections of society, the
poor would in effect subsidise the rich, and the quality of public higher education would be severely
compromised

Higher education should only be opened to students on the basis of merit by means of state
allowances and scholarships. Fundamental education should be free for those who cannot afford it.

Free education is only viable in highly developed countries which have a large tax base. In 2014
funding for universities was 0.75% of the GDP in South Africa whereas in Germany, a developed
country, it was 1.21%. ‘’South African universities receive 41% of their funding from
fees’’(moneyweb.co.za).

So clearly removing all fees is not financially feasible presently for South Africa.

A good example of why higher education should not be made free is the case of Cida City Campus
which was liquidated due to insufficient funds to pay back creditors. The money has to come from
somewhere, nothing is for free, and as we can see it will not be coming entirely from GDP soon.

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4.Possible sources of funding for free quality education in South Africa

If free quality education was even a current option for South Africa, which is clearly not the case, it
could possibly be funded by:

Tax funding -This can be done by means of increasing the funding or budget to universities which
comes from the national budget. This is currently happening as 2015/16 funding is R26.2bn and an
additional R3.2b will be added for 2017/18

Deferred charges -students pay at some point in the future either through loan repayments or a tax
on graduates. This applies to students who do not have the money to pay up-front

Other ways would include the raising of tax or borrowing from global institutions. The extra revenue
could then be distributed accordingly, but as many poor countries South Africa is at its limits on
both.

One other source could perhaps be ending or reducing corruption with more thorough and more
frequent investigations and audits of both the public sector and the government

It was estimated by the Institute for Accountability, in 2012, that South Africa has lost R675 billion
rand due to corruption since 1994 and this is not accounting for inflation. South Africa has a
corruption rank of 52 amongst a 150 countries and has been on an increasing trend since 1994.
(worldaudit.org)

5. Using education as a tool to reduce poverty in South Africa

Education is the best tool to reduce poverty; this is why free quality education should be one of
South Africa’s top priorities. Although not financially feasible currently it is definitely something to
strive for to fight against inequality and poverty.

Good Quality education is the key to social, economic and cultural development for society as a
whole, without education economic growth is not possible and without economic growth free or
cheaper education is not possible.

Inadequate education is directly linked to unemployment, instability, social upheaval and most of all
poverty. This is why Education transformation should be a top priority

Several empirical studies made in developed countries, especially the U.S.A. regarding the sources of
growth have shown that education or the development of human capital is a significant source of
economic growth.

As Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande stated “The achievement of greater social justice is
closely dependent on equitable access by all sections of the population to quality education.”

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6.Conclusion

So from what we have learned we can establish that even though it is a constitutional right to
receive education, this is currently not the case in South Africa And we are fighting to achieve this
goal we are fighting for a better future. Poorer students have limited access to tertiary education
and some bright minds never even get proper education

Even in the financial climate South Africa is currently in, free quality education can be the key to our
countries success. The key to creating an equal and just society without social borders, to creating
more jobs and to reduce poverty and financial inequality so that we as a country South Africa can
flourish economically and socially.

As discussed funding for free quality education has to come from somewhere and perhaps some
minor changes can be implemented systematically to decrease financial losses and increase funding
to the education sector of South Africa. More concrete and functional systems can be implemented
to curb corruption and fraud which costs the country a lot yearly

At the current rate with increased yearly funding to the education sector and no fee increases in the
last year one could say we are at least taking a step in the right direction but it will be a long journey
for South Africa we will need a total educational transformation.

Now we as a country will not be able to achieve this overnight and we will have to stand together
and work hard to make free education and reality in South Africa.

Perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel for South Africa.

‘’Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’’
- Nelson Mandela

‘’Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.’’

- Henry Ford

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7.Refereces

 The Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of South African, Section 2
(1996)

 Anon. 2016. Moneyweb.co.za. http://www.moneyweb.co.za/in-depth/how-to-fund-a-

university-education.

 Anon. 2016. South Africa Corruption Rank | 1996-2016 | Data | Chart | Calendar.
Tradingeconomics.com. http://www.tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/corruption-
rank.

 Anon. 2014. The Role of Education in Economic Development.

YourArticleLibrary.com: The Next Generation Library.
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/economics/the-role-of-education-in-economic-
development.

 Anon. 2016. Why free University in South Africa will be a massive mistake.
Mybroadband.co.za. http://mybroadband.co.za/news/general/155076-why-free-
university-in-south-africa-will-be-a-massive-mistake.

 Anon. 2016. World Audit Corruption. Worldaudit.org.

http://www.worldaudit.org/corruption.htm