Call for student-centred reform or risk losing an entire generation

South Africa’s higher education system is at a critical turning point, and unless systemic, inclusive reforms are made, the country risks leaving behind an entire generation of talented students, says the Old Mutual Education Trust (OMET).

The trust warns that a lack of meaningful change, particularly in institutions that serve historically disadvantaged communities, is deepening inequality under the guise of accessibility.

“South Africa’s education system is at a crossroads, and without a bold, collaborative, data-informed turnaround strategy, sensitive to the changed student demographic, we risk losing potential talent,” OMET says.

Leonie Sampson, head of OMET, says higher education institutions “play a vital role in nurturing human potential including artists, philosophers, educators and changemakers, who contribute to the enrichment of our society and shape the kind of future and society we all aspire to live in”.

Despite democracy’s promises, OMET’s experience over the past 20 years reveals persistent disparities between institutions. “Students at historically under-resourced institutions continue to face challenges their counterparts at better-resourced institutions do not,” says OMET in a statement.

“Sadly, these are often the very institutions where support is most desperately needed by students from challenging backgrounds, and they are more affordable,” says Sampson.

Sampson says many students with exceptional potential are caught in the middle of a broken system. “It’s heartbreaking. These are brilliant young minds from under-resourced communities who are caught in the middle between funder risk-aversion and a university experience that cannot meet the needs of many students.”

To address this, OMET is calling on university management teams, governing councils and public authorities to rethink how student support is delivered. The student experience must be one that is student-centred. Without this, the system will continue to replicate inequality under the guise of access to higher education, Sampson says.

But Sampson stresses that no lasting change can happen without fixing the full pipeline of education. “This is our moment to reimagine the system,” she says. “It starts with strong foundations in Early Childhood Development and continues through to tertiary level with a consistent focus on how and what we teach, what we value, and how we prepare learners for life.”

She advocates for a comprehensive, long-term strategy that views education as a continuum. This, she argues, must be designed to produce not just employable graduates but also critical thinkers and active citizens prepared to thrive in an interconnected, fast-evolving world.

Sampson believes the current university model, largely unchanged for decades, is no longer fit for purpose. The country needs an agile, tech-integrated, global-conscious education system. We need to be innovative, creative and flexible, she notes.

“Therefore, the outcome should not just be about passing exams,” Sampson adds. “It’s about preparing young people to navigate complex global challenges, from AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution to climate change, migration, and cultural integration,” she said.

Sampson’s comments come as the Department of Higher Education and Training reaffirmed its focus on transforming the post-school sector. Speaking during a parliamentary committee meeting at the end of June, Minister of Higher Education Nomalungelo Nkabane acknowledged that the Presidency’s ten-year review of National Development Plan (NDP) progress revealed disappointing outcomes toward achieving the 2030 goals.

Nkabane emphasised that the Department will continue working within its budget to expand access to Post-School Education and Training (PSET), improve quality, and boost student success rates.

Key priorities in the coming years include a review of the size and shape of the PSET system, repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges, increasing funding for students from poor and “missing middle” households, and strengthening governance across the sector.

IOL attempted to contact the Department of Higher Education. However, the media liaison contact provided on the gov.za website bounced, and the latest statements available on the Department’s website are from 2023.

IOL