Academics “squandered” due to government policy
16 August 2019
Government policy is not aimed at drawing the most out of South Africa's rich academic well. This became evident from the answers provided to two written questions that the FF Plus posed to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
One question dealt with retaining academics after the compulsory age of retirement, namely 65 years. The Minister's answer was that academics can indeed be employed for another three years, but that it seems to be the exception rather than the rule. The Minister added, furthermore, that the emphasis is rather on developing emerging academics and that retired academics should act as mentors and relief staff.
In reality, however, an academic has reached the peak of his or her career at the age of 65. Seeing as greater life expectancy and good health at high age are becoming more and more common, academics are still able to be most productive at that age.
For example, 32% of Nobel prize winners were older than 65 and more than half of the people who won the prize were older than 60. In fact, there are 38 winners of the prize who were older than 80 when the prize was awarded to them. Continuing one's academic career after the age of 65 should be the rule rather than the exception.