LAST year was a watershed year in the higher education sector, as students at most South African universities protested under the #FeesMustFall banner. Some were calling for free tertiary education.Chapter 2 sub-section 29 (1) (b) of the Constitution states, "Everyone has a right to higher education which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible." It is quite clear that this does not create an obligation on the state to provide free higher education.The question that must be asked is whether the state has made advances since 1994 in making higher education available and accessible. The answer is a resounding yes when considering the growth in the number of students enrolled in South African higher education institutions including technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, community colleges and universities.The participation rate in higher education for youth in the 20-24 age group increased from 15.4% in 2003 to ...
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