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November 13, 2024 Bruce Chapman, _Australian National University_ Higher education services – like healthcare, food and roads – do not magically drop out of the sky. It costs money to run
university campuses, infrastructure and pay for teaching and research. May 31, 2023 Rob Gruijters, _University of Cambridge_ The introduction of free education should follow a gradual
process, starting with the lowest levels. October 3, 2021 Janerose Mutegi Kibaara, _Kenyatta University_ More teachers need to be employed to cope with the increasing number of students in
secondary schools. January 15, 2018 Sean Gossel, _University of Cape Town_ and Misheck Mutize, _University of Cape Town_ In announcing free higher education, South African President Jacob
Zuma, lobbed a populist hot potato at the ANC elective conference but it’s ordinary people whose fingers will be burnt. January 9, 2018 Steven Friedman, _University of Johannesburg_ A closer
look at the resolution of South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, show that it won’t undertake a radical economic transformation agenda as suggested by media reports. January 4, 2018 Mashupye
Herbert Maserumule, _Tshwane University of Technology_ Free university education and land redistribution without compensation have far-reaching implications for South Africa’s economy, and
requires exceptional leadership. April 5, 2017 Edward Webster, _University of the Witwatersrand_ Generational rebellion is an enduring feature of all societies. Indeed, it is the dynamic
through which societies renew themselves and move forward. November 1, 2016 Mashupye Herbert Maserumule, _Tshwane University of Technology_ Some students argue wrongly that the ANC has
betrayed the promise of free higher education made in the Freedom Charter. The governing party’s populism is also to blame for the confusion. October 31, 2016 Seán Mfundza Muller,
_University of Johannesburg_ Demands being made by protesting students in South Africa purport to support the poor. But the most marginalised young people in the country will not benefit
from free higher education. October 23, 2016 Shireen Motala, _University of Johannesburg_ There has been a great deal of research, planning and talking to come up with solutions to South
Africa’s higher education funding crisis. Some of these plans must now be put into action. October 4, 2016 George Hull, _University of Cape Town_ A “buy now, pay later” model is well suited
to financing higher education. Commercial bank loans are not viable. Government-backed loans with income-contingent repayment are the fair solution. September 27, 2016 Damtew Teferra,
_University of KwaZulu-Natal_ Higher education is a resource intensive enterprise. It cannot effectively function without a massive injection of resources in a sustained and escalated
manner. September 26, 2016 Danie Visser, _University of Cape Town_ It’s unlikely that student protests are directly affecting South African universities’ rankings. Instead, decades of
government underfunding in higher education may be at least partly to blame. September 21, 2016 Salim Vally, _University of Johannesburg_; Enver Motala, _University of Fort Hare_; Leigh-Ann
Naidoo, _University of the Witwatersrand_; Mondli Hlatshwayo, _University of Johannesburg_; Rasigan Maharajh, _Tshwane University of Technology_, and Zolisa Marawu, _Nelson Mandela
University_ South Africa’s higher education minister has dealt with fee increments for 2017 but sidestepped students’ fundamental issue: an ongoing call to make higher education free for
all. July 26, 2016 Ahmed Essop, _University of Johannesburg_ South African students’ demands for free university education are not going away. Nor are the country’s economic realities. June
8, 2016 Salim Vally, _University of Johannesburg_; Enver Motala, _University of Fort Hare_; Leigh-Ann Naidoo, _University of the Witwatersrand_; Mondli Hlatshwayo, _University of
Johannesburg_; Rasigan Maharajh, _Tshwane University of Technology_, and Zolisa Marawu, _Nelson Mandela University_ Free public higher education is possible and necessary. It’s also
realistic, if it’s based on thorough research, consultation and students giving back through community service after graduation. February 11, 2016 Damtew Teferra, _University of
KwaZulu-Natal_ If higher education is made “free” for all, the whole society ends up paying more. That’s deeply unjust in already unequal societies, such as those in Africa. January 28, 2016
Salim Vally, _University of Johannesburg_; Enver Motala, _University of Fort Hare_; Leigh-Ann Naidoo, _University of the Witwatersrand_; Mondli Hlatshwayo, _University of Johannesburg_, and
Rasigan Maharajh, _Tshwane University of Technology_ Many people dismiss the idea of free, quality public university education out of hand. But there are many ways to make it happen - and
it all ties back to the idea of education as a public good. January 20, 2016 Linda Chisholm, _University of Johannesburg_ South Africa’s fee exemption system is at the heart of a deepening
divide in the country’s school sector. It’s time for a major relook at how this policy is applied. October 27, 2015 Katlego Disemelo, _University of the Witwatersrand_ Don’t let the name
fool you: the #feesmustfall protests at South Africa’s universities are about far more than a single issue. A student who has been deeply involved in the protests explains.