In a call for structural reform, Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela recently challenged African universities to move beyond symbolic gestures and embed disability inclusion into their institutions. Speaking at the Times Higher Education Africa Universities Summit in Nairobi, Manamela revealed a sobering statistic: as of 2023, students with disabilities accounted for just 1.3% of total enrolments in South Africa’s public universities.
For Manamela, these figures are a clear signal that the current approach is failing. He argued that accessibility should never be treated as an “afterthought” or a secondary adjustment. Instead, he insists that inclusion must be a fundamental part of the design process. “Inclusion is not a speech,” the Minister stated. “It is design.”
The Minister highlighted that the barriers facing students with disabilities extend far beyond simply getting through the front door. To achieve true equality, universities must re-evaluate every aspect of the student experience, including:
- Infrastructure: Ensuring physical campuses are navigable for everyone.
- Digital Design: Making online learning platforms and resources accessible.
- Curriculum Adaptation: Adjusting how subjects are taught and assessed.
- Staff Training: Educating faculty on how to support diverse learning needs.
A central theme of Manamela’s address was the need for transparency and accountability. He urged institutions to stop relying on “anecdotes” and start publishing disaggregated data. By tracking specific metrics, such as retention rates, completion times, and employment outcomes for students with disabilities, universities can move toward genuine transformation rather than just ticking boxes.
Ultimately, the Minister reminded the summit that the “higher education question is inseparable from the social question.” While policy has successfully widened access for women in South Africa, the gap remains wide for those with disabilities. The goal for the future is to move toward a system that provides “real equality,” where inclusion means power and access leads to guaranteed success for every student.
