The Minister of Higher Education, Nobuhle Nkabane held a briefing on Monday afternoon where she provided updates on stakeholder engagements about the higher education sector and the challenges faced in the sector.
Nkabane had extensive consultations with stakeholders in the sector to discuss how to improve institutions, including having engagements with student organisations. Within these engagements, many challenges seen in the sector were highlighted.
The purpose of these consultations was to solicit inputs and proposals to policy positions on matters that affect the PSET system.
The main challenge which was discussed was the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). "NSFAS is the main factor of instabilities in our Institutions of Higher Learning,” said the Minister.
Nkabane said that this is linked to the delays in releasing Matric results which leads to delays in funding decisions. They discussed ways in which the sector’s performance can be improved and the need for reforms with the aim to operate holistically and in a systematic way.
These engagements also revealed that private student accommodation should be a conducive environment for both learning and living with student safety needing to be addressed and improved on.
Education is a critical tool used by the government to address historical injustices, poverty, and inequalities and also equip students to enter the labour force as a driver to build a capable developmental state.
The department is hoping to increase the enrolment numbers at higher education institutions. They aim to have 1 million students enrolled at community colleges, 2.5 million in public and private TVET colleges and 1.6 million university enrolments by 2030.
Nkabane said there is a need for national skills needs and the curriculum at institutions to be aligned as well as to look at the correlation between access and success in the system.
It is my contention that ongoing discussions with student formations and political bodies will shape the future of higher education policy, particularly regarding student financial aid and accessibility.
“Vice-chancellors from various universities together with principals of TVET Colleges also attended the stakeholder meetings – and their collective inputs will definitely help shape our policy positions and approaches to matters of teaching and learning and other areas of interest.”
