Commission discusses increase in the cost of degrees per year
The Commission of Inquiry into the feasibility of free higher education says it will be seeking clarity from tertiary institutions on what factors influence the cost of a degree.
The Commission of Inquiry has been in Durban over the past two days, holding public hearings.
Commission member, Advocate Gregory Ally says differing prices of degrees need to be explained.
"If you take the cost of education - you must be able to tell me this is worth the costs per year to keep a child or to tutor a child.
Then you should say why it costs so much so that there is an understanding.
"This is because it can't be that for the same degree - you pay R120 000 at one institution and you pay R27 000 at another institution," he said.
Durban University of Technology's Nomthandazo Gwele says the institution is going through a process of renewing all their programmes.
"Therefore one of the things that we require from academic departments and faculties when they submit those programmes for us is a business plan. We don't look at whether the programme will make a profit but at least it must be delivered at cost. That goes to finance - the final say in terms of that costing," she said.
Former UKZN SRC member, Thulisa Ndela feels none of the professors who made submissions were able to answer questions around what informs increases in the cost of degrees.