Admissions agency slammed

2003-08-17 16:10

Cape Town - Education Minister Kader Asmal's proposed central agency to administer admissions to universities and technikons was slammed by the Democratic Alliance and the New National Party on Sunday.

Martha Olckers, NNP spokesperson on education, said such an agency would undermine academic freedom and autonomy and was probably unconstitutional.

The Sunday Times reported on Sunday that Asmal intended setting up a Higher Education Information and Application Service - a body that would process applications for tertiary education on a national scale and would then allocate students to universities and technikons.

The plan was probably unconstitutional because it would interfere directly with students' freedom of choice of an academic institution. It would also lead to a lowering of academic standards at institutions that were world-renowned for excellence, she said.

Willem Doman, education spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance, called Asmal's plan a "chillingly Stalinist approach to higher education" and said it would erode the autonomy of universities and technikons.

The proposed agency would be an administrative monster, said Doman, and the DA rejected claims that it would lower the cost of applications, promote easier access to institutions, or lead to appropriate placements.

He hoped the government would reject the plan, said Doman, as South Africa would never forgive the ANC if it destroyed the quality of higher education.

- SAPA