0% fee increase will place DUT in debt: Vice Chancellor

Dr John Volmink made the comment at the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training in Durban yesterday.

"All budgets are based on a set of assumptions. Now if we assume for next year 2017, that there will be no fee increase for the next three years, [2017, 2018, 2019] - our debt will grow next year starting with R56-million. 

"The following year it will be R136-million and the year after that R226-million and we won't recover from that," he said.

Volmink says DUT does not support total fee-free education for all considering the numerous other challenges on their plate including infrastructure, managing buildings and declining subsidies.

"We support a formula-based notion of fee free higher education for the poor and indigent based on family income and in a sense NSFAS does it. This formula can also be extended to accommodate the missing middle and so to the extent that we can, we should accommodate the missing middle," he said.

Earlier this week, UKZN Vice Cancellor Albert van Jaarsveld said those who can afford to pay for tuition should pay for their education while those who struggle financially should be assisted by the state or taxpayers.

Van Jaarsveld says the country is at a crossroad of deciding the best development interests of the nation and maximising opportunities for young people irrespective of their socio-economic background.

In case you missed it, Van Jaarsveld speaking to the commission.