Private Higher Education in South Africa: The Confluence of Education, Market and Transformation

Private higher education provision in South Africa dates back 200 years. Private institutions formed the origins of the country’s oldest and most reputable public universities. Yet, for the most part, the sector has had a protean existence, varying in response to social and economic demands for education, filling spaces left by state legislation and public university provision. This chapter traces the evolution of private higher education in the South African context. From the deep colonial and apartheid roots that embedded segregated, unequal and hierarchical structures which have shaped the higher education system and the role and form of private provision to date. At the institutional interface, the chapter describes the distinctive types of private institutions, their demographic profiles, governance structures and program offerings, positioned relative to those of public universities in the country. Private provision both complements and supplements public universities through the different ways in which the pedagogies and other core functions play out in practice. From its vague and sometimes questionable past, the private sector now comprises a legitimate and growing share of the national higher education system. A notable trend is the increasing corporatization of private institutions, significantly influencing the size and shape of the private sector in the country. Higher education fosters opportunities to transform lives and society. Private institutions contribute to a wider, more diverse and efficient higher education system that conforms to national development goals. So it matters that the sector enables equitable and fair opportunities for all enrolled students.