The NWG has identified a number of issues, which fall outside its terms of reference but which are critical to the successful reconfiguration of the higher education system. The NWG refers these to the Minister for his consideration and further investigation.
There is some correlation between strong leadership and management in an institution and institutional stability. However, good governance and administration is dependent on a number of other factors, such as the quality and depth of qualified personnel at middle management levels and the presence or absence of consensus within an institution. The NWG recommends that the Ministry investigate ways (either directly or through bodies such as SAUVCA and the CTP) to develop higher education leadership as well as management and administrative capacity through rigorous training and other interventions.
The NWG has identified that one of the major factors that has impacted on institutional stability in some institutions is the lack of clarity on the role and function of the different governance structures such as the council, management, senate, and the institutional forum. This has, furthermore, been exacerbated by the expansion of councils to enable widened representation and participation. However, the large numbers, in one case over 40 members, the lack of expertise in critical areas such as financial management, the tension between stakeholder interest and expertise, micro-management of institutions by council members, and unreasonable payments to council members have collectively led to severe and intractable problems. The NWG is particularly concerned about reported payment to members of councils, which it believes to be undesirable in any form, except for legitimate expenses.
The NWG believes that optimal and effective governance at the level of councils is imperative for a successful outcome of reconfiguration proposals. Attention is therefore drawn to the urgent necessity for the review and reform of the current structure and functions of councils. The reduction in numbers of council members, the composition of council, careful selection of its members based on expertise, integrity and commitment and the regulation of payment should be considered as part of the review.
The NWG recommends that the existing training programme for council members, which has been facilitated by the Ministry, should be expanded to include all the governance structure, but especially, the institutional forum.
The NWG is aware that, in the absence of any national norm, the contribution and commitment of academic staff vary. In some instances, productivity, commitment and a sense of duty are sadly lacking. The NWG recommends that a thoroughgoing scheme be introduced to encourage academic and research output among staff.
The NWG is convinced that academic staff remuneration needs addressing. Overall, the levels of remuneration are not competitive with the public or private sectors. These disparities are widening. There are also significant differences between institutions. It will be necessary for the Minister to consider the introduction of a broad set of guidelines on conditions of service and remuneration levels to steer institutions. In contrast, the NWG understands remuneration of top administrators to be high in a number of instances.
The South African higher education system is in competition not only with the international education system, but also with government and the local business and commercial sector. Qualified academics are recruited by the private sector, which often has higher rates of remuneration. In this competitive environment, strategies have to be developed to recruit and retain not only young academics, but also seasoned and experienced professionals.
The NWG found that a number of institutions have perceptions of their current and medium term capacity which are completely unrealistic and display an alarming lack of insight and understanding. It is important that institutions be assisted to realise what is achievable in terms of academic programmes, student enrolments and collection of student fees. In this context, the NWG supports the Ministry’s current exercise to approve realistic programme mixes for institutions and recommends that this be further reinforced and refined in the next three-year rolling plan exercise.
The NWG believes that higher education must be more efficient in the use of academic staff and in the use of physical facilities. Staff may, at times, be present on campus for half a day and the lecture halls and seminar rooms may only be in use for part of the day and for part of the year. While it is true that research may be conducted off campus, the NWG gained the impression that this was not the major reason for the absence of academic staff from institutions. Furthermore, some higher education institutions adopt the same attitude as schools with regard to times when students are on vacation and, as a consequence, close down for several months of the year. This is unacceptable. The NWG recommends that the Ministry investigate whether the higher education sector is giving value for money in terms of optimal use of time, space, human and other resources.
The large majority of entrants into the higher education system are direct products of the secondary school system. The NWG is aware of the fact that some improvement in the scholastic performance of learners in the school system has been recorded. However, the overall levels of academic performance are low and must be improved to ensure that higher education in turn performs at its optimal level. The NWG recommends that the Minister continue to give urgent attention to improving the quality of learning and teaching at the secondary school level. Particular attention should be given to the languages, mathematics and science.
Available documentation and surveys indicate that HIV/AIDS-related fatalities are on the increase within the South African community. While there is no comprehensive review of the situation in higher education, alarming statistics are being reported. The NWG recommends that impact studies to assess the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in higher education be undertaken as a matter of urgency. These studies, should, among others, investigate the effects of the pandemic on future enrolments, graduation rates, higher education cost and numbers of qualified professionals working within and exiting from the system.
The NWG is aware of the fact that the Minister has issued (for comment) draft regulations on the registration of private higher education institutions. In some instances, private providers have an important role to play in extending access to and broadening the provision of higher education. In several instances, however, some public higher education institutions are working with private higher education providers in an unsatisfactory manner and to the disadvantage of the system as a whole. The NWG supports the introduction of regulations to control this situation.