AfriForum warns against ANC’s subversion of academic freedom
AfriForum expressed great concern over the way in which the governing party increasingly subverts the principles of academic freedom. This follows after amending legislation on higher education has unexpectedly been laid on the table at parliament last Friday.
According to Alana Bailey, deputy CEO of AfriForum, the acceptance and implementation of this bill will put more control in the hands of the Minister of Higher Education and Training, which may result in the interference in all spheres of the functioning of tertiary institutions.
“When universities are subjected to the government’s ideology and agenda, quality is the first victim. We are wrestling in South Africa with a tragic situation where 80% of the country’s schools are dysfunctional. This means that few young people are properly prepared for tertiary studies. Those who do study after matric do it with great sacrifice. However, their expertise is necessary to help turn around the low economic growth rate and high levels of unemployment in South Africa. For this reason, quality education on tertiary level is non-negotiable – and that includes the protection of the autonomy and academic freedom of universities.”
Bailey noted that Mr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education and Training, has interfered in university management on several occasions in the past and has made many a remark that caused grave concern about government’s commitment to academic freedom. The proposed bill creates another question mark in this regard.
She is of the opinion that, should government be serious about the future of quality tertiary education, it should withdraw the bill and rather concentrate on the proper funding of institutions and stop absolutizing the campaigns of outsiders and outsider organisations against academic processes such as examination (among other), as well as statues and language policies.
“There is space on the campus of a successful institution for different ideas and healthy debating. There is respect for all communities, as well as internationally accepted human rights such as mother tongue education. Students who do not feel at home should feel comfortable in raising their opinions, but should also be accommodating towards the opinions of others. When a community’s hero or language needs make another feel unwelcome, it actually creates an opportunity for discussions and finding a solution that accommodates everyone – not for biased actions that simply transfer the discomfort of one community onto another as some kind of retribution, as is currently the case,” Bailey said.
“Should the Minister obtain more power in this regard, debating will be smothered in favour of submission to government, which will mean the end of democracy. AfriForum therefore takes a stand against this bill and requests government to withdraw it,” she added.
Bailey declared that, if this was not done, AfriForum would obtain a legal opinion about the constitutionality of the bill and would plan further action on the basis thereof.
Issued by Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO, AfriForum, 9 November 2015
