Free higher education is a pipe dream and not sustainable. I fully support cheaper primary and high school education (hell free if possible) but free tertiary education will dilute the market. Not everyone can afford university, and that's not a bad thing. It's not "colonialist" or "racist" it's just what it is. Look at the situation in Australia, they have a huge shortage of tradesmen simply because the average Aussie does not want to become a "tradie" so they have plenty of Varsity educated people because it's affordable (subsided up to 60% by the state and bridged with bursaries). I personally know a couple of plumbers, mechanics and locksmiths that went to Aus (critical skills visa nogal) and they're making a killing because the younger generation of Aussies are just not interested in vocational training.
The focus in SA should be Primary and Secondary education for as many students as possible. Focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) tracks. Resurrect the apprenticeship system and get vocational colleges set up. Make these cheap and sustainable. Focus on rewarding excellence.
The other issues that are being created now is that the burning of higher education facilities will incur additional costs to the institutions and somehow these need to get funded. It's detrimental to the students that want to study and want to attain a degree. Hell UCT is a bloody mess at the moment and classes are suspended until further notice. Its almost end of year exam time. People need to study and stop feeling so bloody entitled.
