Transformation in South Africa's tertiary institutions remains a major challenge, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Thursday.

"It is not acceptable to find that 16 years after the attainment of political democracy, higher education is still inaccessible to the majority of potential learners because of a combination of hurdles," he said.

Motlanthe was addressing delegates at a conference for higher education leaders in Cape Town.

"Furthermore, it is troubling that a majority of those who make it into the higher education system do not complete their studies but drop out because they are not suitably prepared for university and technikons," he said.

He acknowledged that higher education enrolments had increased by 70% since 1994 and that the racial composition of student bodies had substantially changed.

However, he said that it was not enough to applaud transformation at a superficial level.

"Broadly speaking, by transformation we mean a process that addresses the accumulated disabilities in our society ranging from cultural, economic, racial and gender exclusions as they manifest themselves in numerous institutions and organisations," he said.

Delegates at the conference included representatives of universities, technikons, further education and training colleges, sector education and training authorities, and the government.

"I believe that this summit is long overdue and offers an opportunity for major stakeholders to engage and exchange ideas on higher education transformation," Motlanthe said.

He was pleased that delegates would focus on issues of access, equity and quality in relation to the core functions of higher education.

The conference would also focus on examining the role of higher education in national development, and discuss the need, feasibility and possible modalities for more systematic and structured communication between the sector and the minister of higher education and training.

"These critical issues cannot be overemphasised. We need a catholic and integrated approach to tackle the human resource needs of the country," said Motlanthe.

"By human resource development, we refer to the enhancement of people's skills levels, knowledge and abilities with the ultimate purpose of increasing their productivity in areas of work and improving the lives of their families and society at large."

He was convinced that if the challenges and solutions to transformation were identified, the government would be better placed to respond to its priorities of education, health, rural development and land reform, job creation, and fighting crime and corruption.