A CPI increase to a maximum of 4.23% for tuition fees;“I would like to point out that fee increases are agreed upon in the sector as part of a social compact that has been in place since 2016, the only year when fees were not increased.
“It should also be noted that the costs of providing university education continue to increase, and it is therefore not sustainable to consider lower than inflation fee increases. Audited accumulated gross student debt as of 31 December 2020 is R16.5 billion. The amount is inclusive of students who have exited the universities with debt.
“While we are concerned about the long-term sustainability of the fully-subsidised funding for students from poor and working-class backgrounds, we are also concerned about students considered to be in the “missing middle” and the need for more postgraduate funding opportunities.