Earlier this month, it was revealed that student debt in the country stands at around R16.5 billion, with the current cost of debt annually amounting to about R1.5 billion.
With registration and student enrolment at universities across the country currently underway, prospective students will have to dig deeper into their pockets this year as the cost of tuition is set to increase.
Most universities have increased tuition and accommodation fees by 5.1% and 7.1% respectively, aligning with Department of Higher Education and Training guidelines.
According to media reports, Stellenbosch University has raised its tuition by 8%, while Unisa has increased fees by 7.6%.
Student unions have expressed their disapproval of the fee increases and have called on government to halt financial exclusions on higher education for the 2023 academic year.
The SA Union of Students (SAUS) President Yandisa Ndzoyiya states that the fee hike will not only affect students, but also the education system as a whole.
We have a crisis in the country, people are losing jobs, so they are unable to pay tuition fees and there is a demand of higher education as it becomes difficult to enter the labour market without certain skills and qualifications.
Ndzoyiya says SAUS has urged government and the DHET to monitor and regulate institutions so that they do not continuously increase fees as it becomes a moving target for government to fund education.
He adds, “There must be a way of monitoring how fees are increased so that higher education does not become exclusive to students who cannot afford to pay tuition fees.”
Ndzoyiya stressed that students that form part of the missing middle will be affected by the fee increases the most.
The term "missing middle" refers to students who are thought to be too wealthy to be eligible for government funding yet cannot avoid the costs of tertiary education.
“If fees keep increasing every year, the missing middle students will fall out in the students and we’ll be left with only those we are affording privately and students that are funded by government,” he adds.
Meanwhile, institutions argue that the increases are necessary due to rising costs and to deliver quality service to students.
Higher education Minister Blade Nzimande has also confirmed that his department is currently working on a new comprehensive student funding model that aims to deflate student debt and provide funding options for missing middle students.
