The financial crisis at historically black universities in South Africa: an analysis of the policy debates with' special reference to the University of the Western Cape

Abstract

This research is based on the financial crisis of the Historically Black Universities as well as the access problems encountered by students from poor backgrounds. Furthermore the research highlights the problems encountered by these students once they are accepted into these universities for example the inability to cope up with the high standards of studying at these institutions as well as the problem of paying their fees. The thesis shows the history of university funding in South Africa with emphasis on the different funding formulas, dating back to the era of the Holloway funding formula as well as the Van Wyk de Vries report, the Sapse funding formula and different other mechanisms up to the present funding formula. Views of different educationalists will also be dealt with in regard to the funding problems of university education in South Africa. The funding problems for university education started easing up as from 2004/5, with the introduction of the New Funding Formula (NFF) which increased subsidy levels if universities registered more black students or even tried to increase their numbers as well as increasing distance learning, but the question is asked what impact this had on the enrolment of previously disadvantages students. In the next chapter the enrolment of students at tertiary education institutions is therefore analysed, both historically and with emphasis on the position after 2000. It is found that although African student enrolment increased, the increase was lower than expected, and that this needs to be addressed by policy. The research thesis then explores the problems being experienced in high school education and how these contribute to the lack of sufficient numbers of historically disadvantaged students at universities. The thesis concludes with several recommendations to address this situation, essentially based on key literary sources, and discusses several measures which need to be taken in order to facilitate easier access to universities for poor and historically marginalised South African students.