FEES COMMISSION
Free, quality education a noble idea but out of reach, says Chamber of Mines
Free, quality higher education was not possible in the current, constrained economic climate, the Chamber of Mines has argued in its submission to the fees commission. Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor and the ANC Youth League are scheduled to make their submissions on Wednesday. The chamber represents mining houses that are some of the largest employers in the country. The industry is a huge beneficiary of higher education and employs graduates from a range of fields including geology and engineering. Historically, mining has underpinned the economy. However, the sector has experienced a rapid decline because of the downturn in commodities. The Chamber of Mines made its submission to the fees commission last week, saying that although it believed fee-free education was noble, it was unaffordable under the current economic climate. Mustak Ally, head of skills development at the chamber, said tertiary education should be funded without undermining fiscal discipline. It ne...
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