The establishment of online universities which allow students to access education from anywhere could solve some of the problems associated with the problem of accessing higher education.

This was the view expressed by University of the Witwatersrand graduate Ntokozo Mahlangu at the Fees Commission in Pretoria on Wednesday.

“I believe it is feasible with the ability of technology to make more use of limited resources‚” Mahlangu said.

Mahlangu was one of the individuals making submissions to the commission which was established to inquire into‚ report on and make recommendations on the feasibility of fee-free higher education and training in South Africa.     

President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission earlier this year following the #FeesMustFall protests by university students in October last year in response to an increase in fees at universities.

Mahlangu said ongoing costs of attending university could be reduced by online universities.

“Students can forego the cost of food‚ transport and accommodation.”

He suggested that students be given zero-rated broadband access and computers that corporations no longer needed.

“We have massive open online courses. The problem with them is that they are not accredited‚” Mahlangu said.

Commission chairman Judge Jonathan Heher asked if the University of South Africa (Unisa) was not on online university.

Mahlangu replied that although Unisa reached out to more people‚ there were still books to buy and assignments had to be submitted manually.