State of higher education funding in South Africa : policy implications for institutional autonomy and academic freedom

Abstract

Higher education in South Africa appears to be confronted with diminishing state funding and at the same time, more interference by government in its management and administration. Government’s policies on increased access and participation rates and meeting the developmental needs of the country may be in jeopardy as a result of the steady decline in the funding of higher education. The extent of government involvement in higher education’s autonomy and academic freedom may also lead to the loss of universities’ identity and ability to determine their directions, roles and functions. This article focuses on the funding framework for higher education institutions, as well as on the planning process for new funding of tertiary education. Apart from explaining the categories of government grants to higher education institutions, this article also explores current funding problems and the implications thereof, as well as investigates the practical problems associated with the interference by government in the institutional autonomy and academic freedom of tertiary institutions.