South Africa Addresses Racism in Universities

South Africa has been attempting to meet an increase in demand for higher education as well as to meet government demands to address racism since the end of apartheid in 1994. Following separate incidents of apparent racism in the university system, South Africa is trying to make progress for both students and professors.

Minority staff members’ numbers do not match the rising numbers of minority students, leading university leaders to call for increased recruitment measures. Both black and women professors are needed as well as professors who come from other parts of Africa.

The situation does not look optimistic; however, progress has been made since the end of apartheid. The student body has increased from 495,356 students in 1994 to 899,120 students in 2012. Black professors, who in 1994 were 17% of the professor population, reached 44% in 2010. In addition, the government is building more institutions to increase student enrollment.

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Written by Amanda Bragg