Student debt weighs heavily on universities

South African universities are owed millions of rand by students, with some of the debt dating back to the early 1980s. Even though some institutions feel the pinch more than others, the huge debt takes a heavy toll because tuition fees form a significant part of the income of universities, writes Bongekile Macupe for Independent Online.

For those students who don’t pay up, diplomas or degrees are withheld until their debt is settled, often putting them in a Catch-22 bind. Jabulani Mathebula finished his public management diploma at the University of Johannesburg last year and is due to graduate in April. But he owes the university R6,000 (US$655) and if he doesn’t raise the money before April he won’t get his diploma.

Jeffrey Mabelebele, acting chief director of Higher Education South Africa, an association of vice-chancellors, sympathises with students like Mathebula. However, he emphasised that universities must fund their running costs and students need to pay back their debts.
Full report on the Independent Online site