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Commercialisation has watered down university education

There is a need to reclaim and strengthen the tertiary colleges to continue offering the technical and practical skills they were meant for. [Istockphoto]

I was a university student when the then-president announced the introduction of parallel degrees. These were meant for self-sponsored students or people who were already working and wanted to acquire a degree. This would come with lowered cut points for entry. The announcement brought an uproar among university students then. We decried the possible negative impact the move would have on the quality of education, from diluting the quality of degree certificates to stretching the already stretched infrastructure and facilities in public universities. We called for a review...