Date: 10/11/2004
Source: Ministry of Education
Title: N Pandor: Opening of CHE colloquium on 10 years of democracy & HE change


ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, NALEDI PANDOR, MP, AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE COUNCIL ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHE) COLLOQUIUM ON TEN YEARS OF DEMOCRACY AND HIGHER EDUCATION CHANGE, Glenburn Lodge Country Estate, Muldersdrift, 10 November 2004

Chairperson of the CHE, Mr Saki Macozoma
Vice-chancellors
Honoured Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a pleasure to be here this evening at the start of what I am sure will be two days of robust debate.

Let me start by congratulating the CHE and its partners, SAUVCA and the CTP, for organising this colloquium in the year that we celebrate ten years of democracy.

I have spent a good part of my first six months in office engaging with a whole host of key constituencies in the education sector, including higher education, and with interest groups in civil society and the private sector who have a stake in education.

My observations confirm that higher education stands at the precipice of weighty decision-making. It could take a leap into a strong revival of all institutions and a firm role in influencing and shaping the process of transition in South Africa.

Or it could choose to reside in isolated mediocrity, satisfied with a few star performers, and a majority that refuses to accept the mantle of change.

It has to be acknowledged that several institutions have made great strides and have managed to reflect internationally accepted criteria of positive achievement. They produce peer-referenced research, have able scholars who understand the intellectual enterprise, and offer teaching programmes that lead to the emergence of graduates who confidently take up their places in any society.

Alongside these successes we have programmes and institutions of somewhat dubious academic credentials, some not pursuing research, many lacking high-ranking scholars, and some offering teaching programmes that will almost certainly fail the looming stringent scrutiny of their peers.

This suggests that there are at least three imperatives that directly confront the sector.

First, we need to confound the sceptics by openly communicating the many positive achievements of our institutions. This is necessary because in my interactions with many South Africans, I have received the strong impression of a cynicism about higher education. People seem to feel we are wasteful, irresponsible, and unresponsive.

Second, higher education will have to articulate its views clearly on its role and place in our society. Arm-chair debates between the convinced will not secure national support, nor will obscure debates about ,