BAC believes increase in government funding is needed

The #‎FeesMustFall campaign calls for free education and an end to outsourcing of workers. The BAC is in support of this call in so far as it sees the call for free education in relation to the concept of freedom (and not in relation to free goods / services); that is, in relation to democratic rights of access to education.

Government allocates just 0.6% of SA's GDP to tertiary education (much lower than other countries with the same GDP). This is part of the larger trend towards the corporatisation of universities which acts as a barrier to education to diverse students and, along with the outsourcing of workers, presents a key obstacle to calls for the decolonisation of higher education. We believe that tax revenue could be put to better use, especially in light of reports about the poor utilisation of tax revenue through poor accountability, inefficiency and graft.

The BAC therefore calls on UCT to suspend fee increases in order to consult with student activists and staff (including academic, administrative and outsourced staff members) with a view to engaging Minister Blade Nzimande on the issue of increasing funding allocations to tertiary institutions.

Issued by the Black Academic Caucus on 19 October 2015.