Some South African Universities on Verge of Bankruptcy

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22869, 12 February 1949, Page 5

Some South African Universities on Verge of Bankruptcy

(From Reuter’s Correspondent.) (By Air Mail) JOHANNESBURG,

South African educationists are urging the setting up of a special grants committee to investigate the position of the Union’s universities, some of which are said to be on the verge of bankruptcy. The causes of their troubles are mainly extreme overcrowding, lack of money to expand, and an excess of expenditure over revenue. The proposed grants committee would make recommendations for coping with this, according to Mr. Hugh Parker, vice-chairman of the Rhodes University College. If the committee is not appointed and the financial problems are not solved, South African universities will not be able to maintain their high traditions. British Model Mr. Parker visualises a university grants committee, similar to the committee which functions in Britain on behalf of the Government, and distributes grants to the universities amounting to more than half their income. He believes that if such a committee were appointed in South Africa it could give wise and necessary guidance to the universities, while not in any way interfering with their academic freedom. The serious financial difficulties facing the universities are claimed to be due partly to a lack of public spirit whereby these institutions are not sufficiently endowed, and partly to the parsiminious view -of the present and previous Parliaments. While it is agreed that racial measures must be taken now, it is felt that they cannot wisely include a raising of fees. In many letters to the press there have been complaints that a great part of the overcrowding is due to girls and boys being sent to university for conventional reasons without regard to their ability or will to work. One remedy suggested is that these be weeded out by examination and that others coming in this category should be banned by higher admittance tests. Fees Cannot Be Raised

The public feels that fees cannot justly be raised because the cost of living and of books is already so high that many students are maintained only by severe sacrifices at home. Newspapers throughout the country have commented on the plight of the universities and have offered various suggestions to solve the problem. Expressing surprise that these universities did not become insolvent long ago, they point out that it is not just that they received so little money, but they are also in a continuous state of uncertainty as to how much will be donated. Unlike some universities abroad, those in South Africa are not financially independent through private endowment and they are forced to rely on the State. The solution of the problem lies entirely in the hands of the Government.