Issued by: Government Communication Information System
30 July 2002
President of the SRC, Members of the SRC, Ladies and Gentlemen In his celebrated work, The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon's states that "Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it." Fanon's comment is pertinent to our discussions here today, since it allows us to focus on the role of the new generation and emphasises the necessity of engagement and participation within a community and the wider world.
I believe that yours is the generation of students that must define its role in relation to the changes that are taking place, generally in our society and within this particular institution, the University of Pretoria. We are living in a highly globalised world, where the information and communications technology has made it possible for the instantaneous dissemination of knowledge and information over vast distances. Where, partly as a result, the aspirations of our youths are often more international than national, more global than local, more looking out in admiration at the huge shining metropoles of the developed world than looking in, and often failing to notice their own feet on the African soil. Certainly, we need to take our rightful place in the global economy, or the imperialist dominated economy as some would describe it, but we also have to begin these socio-economic processes right here at home, within our own backyards and our universities. However much we emulate what we see on the television screens, the reality of the world around us must inform our vision and our actions. You have asked me to speak about the merger of universities, the incorporation of some into others, the resultant curriculum content and financial implications for the process.
In-depth information about the transformation and restructuring of the higher education institutional landscape has already been published in the Government Gazette and I suggest you study the relevant documents. The three fundamental objectives for achieving the vision of a transformed, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic higher education system are outlined in the 1997 Education White Paper 3: A Framework for the Transformation of Higher Education. Briefly, the objectives relate to the need
a) To redress social and structural inequalities that have resulted in a fragmented higher education in which some institutions are better resourced than others and in which race and ethnicity continue to define and limit access into some institutions;
b) To address challenges associated with globalisation, which include the role and capacity of the higher education system in the long-term to meet the human resource and knowledge needs of the country; and
c) To ensure that limited resources are utilised effectively and efficiently.
The National Working Group (NWG) that was appointed by the Minister last year to investigate and advise him on the appropriate arrangements for consolidating the provision of higher education on a regional basis advised that the sustainability of the higher education system, including the effective and efficient use of resources, required a reduction in the present number of institutions through combining institutions.
There are a number of factors that were taken into consideration when deciding on individual mergers of institutions. On the main the following were taken into consideration:
a) Overcoming the racial fragmentation of the higher education system;
b) Achieving economies of scale and scope;
c) Streamlining governance and management structures; and/or
d) Improving administrative systems.
After finalisation a new institutional landscape will result in twenty-one higher education institutions and two National Institutes for Higher Education in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape.
The Ministry has endorsed the proposed unitary merger model because experience has shown that federal mergers could result in serious conflict and disruption if relatively autonomous campuses were to make irreconcilable claims on limited pools of resources. Unitary mergers also provide optimal opportunities for a strong leadership to develop a new academic image and organisational identity, which could inspire staff, attract students and ensure the continuation of national and international partnerships.
The whole point of mergers is, in part, to enable the streamlining of administrative and governance structures and the better utilisation of scarce administrative and managerial skills given the paucity of such skills within the higher education system. The federal model would require the establishment of an additional administrative and governance structure, which would further complicate rather than address the current administrative and governance challenges faced by the higher education system. Even more importantly, federal structures are not suitable given the fragmentation and inequalities between the current historically black and historically white institutions. The continued allegiance to existing institutional identities within a federal structure is likely to fuel conflict especially in relation to determining criteria for resource allocation. It is therefore desirable that we create new institutional identities that would assist us to transcend the race and ethnic divides of the past.
Potential areas for programme allocation and rationalisation between institutions on a regional level in the medium to long-term have already been identified, especially for those institutions that would not be affected by mergers. The University of Pretoria falls in this category, as its proposed reconfiguration is limited to a merger with the Mamelodi satellite campus of Vista University. As a first step, funding for programmes from the 2004/2005 financial year would be subject to institutions jointly reviewing and submitting proposals for programme collaboration and rationalisation by the end of the year. Moreover, the three-year rolling plans focussed on addressing a specific range of transformation goals for the period 2004/2006 would also have to be submitted by these institutions.
The higher education system has a critical role to play in the consolidation of our democracy and in particular our social, cultural, intellectual and economic development. Except for the University of the Western Cape and the University of Zululand, all the institutions that are not affected by mergers are historically white. They are therefore expected to urgently embark on issues of increasing access and equity, improving success rates and developing enabling environments where all students can pursue their studies unhampered by social and cultural impediments. The role of the Ministry is to allocate the funds necessary to enable the institutions to meet their transformational goals and to provide the necessary leadership and direction.
The success of the restructuring process is dependent upon the commitment of all higher education institutions and constituencies, including government.
Therefore, institutions are encouraged to recognise the opportunity to enhance institutional efficiency and effectiveness provided by the restructuring process.
The challenge I would like to pose to you as students is to define the role that you can play in ensuring the transformation of our higher education system, especially given that you have the privilege to attend an institution that is well-resourced and has benefited immensely from the past dispensation. Are you prepared to play a meaningful role towards ensuring that the University of Pretoria is transformed from a historically white institution into an institution that is consistent with the values and principles of our Constitution? What process and strategies are you developing to ensure that all students feel welcome at the university irrespective of their social and cultural background? This is especially important given the proposal to merge this institution with the Mamelodi campus of Vista University. This presents an ideal opportunity for enriching your institutional culture and renewing its institutional identity.
These issues have a broader significance because they ultimately relate to the vision of the future that we need to fashion as a country. You have a critical role to play in fashioning this vision. The vision that gave birth to a democratic dispensation was in no small measure the product of the struggles and sacrifices of an earlier generation of students. It is your responsibility to build on the legacy that they have bequeathed you to ensure that the next generation can benefit from the fruits of your endeavours. I have no doubt that you will rise to the challenge, that you will fulfil the mission that lies before you.
I thank you.