South Africa has enough money to offer free higher education for all, but the country has failed to match its vision with resources and instead prioritised corruption.
This is the crux of chairman of National Planning Commission and leading academic Professor Malegapuru Makgoba's submission to the Fees Commission sitting in Irene, Tshwane, yesterday.
He did not mince his words in his criticism of the current administration's priorities, saying government put education as the apex priority but has failed to match this with an appropriate budget.
"We have a vision, but it is not followed by resources. We have a wish of a great country, but do not allocate appropriate resources ... you cannot set a vision and not allow resources of the country to be reshaped accordingly," he said.
Makgoba said at the heart of the country's problems was tinkering with a budgeting system that does not reflect the country's vision.
To illustrate South Africa's priority and resources mismatch, Makgoba said SA was by far richer than Cuba but it spent 0.71% of its GDP on higher education compared to Cuba's 4.47%.
"It is about choices rather than about the economy. We are richer than Cuba, but look what they are spending on education and are able to offer free higher education," he said.
The respected academic said SA politicians visited Cuba to buy its cigars, but would not bother asking Fidel Castro how he did it.
Makgoba, who was in 2013 recognised as "a pioneer in higher education transformation" when he was awarded the Order of Mapungubwe in silver, said SA would rather spend billions on frigates in an arms deal than pay for free higher education.
"I think we can afford free education for all. The money is there in our country, but we are not prioritising," he said.
Makgoba said bankrupt as it was, Greece provided free higher education.
He said the budget was an instrument to realise the country's objectives, saying money should follow the ideas of a country.
He said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had pointed out last month that if SA cut corruption by 20%, this would release R40-billion for free higher education.
He said this meant if corruption was cut by 100%, then the country would have an extra R160-billion.
"It seems like they have prioritised corruption. They can pay for it, but not education ... we tell [students] there is no money but the [finance] minister says there is money. Who must they believe?"
Makgoba said the ruling ANC adopted a free higher education resolution, but when students said "bring it, they say we are going to think about it. What are we say ing"? - TMG Digital/The Times
Makgoba blasts failure of 'corrupt' government
South Africa has enough money to offer free higher education for all, but the country has failed to match its vision with resources and instead prioritised corruption.
This is the crux of chairman of National Planning Commission and leading academic Professor Malegapuru Makgoba's submission to the Fees Commission sitting in Irene, Tshwane, yesterday.
He did not mince his words in his criticism of the current administration's priorities, saying government put education as the apex priority but has failed to match this with an appropriate budget.
"We have a vision, but it is not followed by resources. We have a wish of a great country, but do not allocate appropriate resources ... you cannot set a vision and not allow resources of the country to be reshaped accordingly," he said.
Makgoba said at the heart of the country's problems was tinkering with a budgeting system that does not reflect the country's vision.
To illustrate South Africa's priority and resources mismatch, Makgoba said SA was by far richer than Cuba but it spent 0.71% of its GDP on higher education compared to Cuba's 4.47%.
"It is about choices rather than about the economy. We are richer than Cuba, but look what they are spending on education and are able to offer free higher education," he said.
The respected academic said SA politicians visited Cuba to buy its cigars, but would not bother asking Fidel Castro how he did it.
Makgoba, who was in 2013 recognised as "a pioneer in higher education transformation" when he was awarded the Order of Mapungubwe in silver, said SA would rather spend billions on frigates in an arms deal than pay for free higher education.
"I think we can afford free education for all. The money is there in our country, but we are not prioritising," he said.
Makgoba said bankrupt as it was, Greece provided free higher education.
He said the budget was an instrument to realise the country's objectives, saying money should follow the ideas of a country.
He said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had pointed out last month that if SA cut corruption by 20%, this would release R40-billion for free higher education.
He said this meant if corruption was cut by 100%, then the country would have an extra R160-billion.
"It seems like they have prioritised corruption. They can pay for it, but not education ... we tell [students] there is no money but the [finance] minister says there is money. Who must they believe?"
Makgoba said the ruling ANC adopted a free higher education resolution, but when students said "bring it, they say we are going to think about it. What are we say ing"? - TMG Digital/The Times
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