A recently released report on racism and transformation at tertiary institutions has failed to grasp certain realities, the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday.

"The report makes recommendations that are completely impractical, while neglecting cheap, practical options," DA spokesperson Wilmot James said in a statement.

The report on transformation and social cohesion and the elimination of discrimination in public higher education institutions was released this week.

In the report, concerns were raised about racism at various levels at universities.

James said: "The DA believes these findings should be taken seriously. But the recommendations in this report are often so hugely unworkable, given the reality that universities face, they can only have been included for the sake of showmanship, while more practical solutions are ignored."

The report ignored issues like the lack of funding for institutions, he said.

"We produced only about 1200 PhD graduates in 2005, when we need to be producing 6000 a year. Every university in South Africa is in a funding crunch."