The tertiary education sector managed to return to normal after the disruptive implications of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the Special Adjustment Budget being implemented. Since the inception of this revised budget, significant cuts to certain line items between 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 had to be made.
This meant that the Planning, Policy and Strategy programme, as well as allocations to SETAs and the National Skills Fund saw notable reductions, but allocations to the University Education were relatively protected.
The largest transfer was allocated to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS); a significant amount of R40.5 billion rand was allocated to the student funding organization because of its importance in assisting South Africa's students with their tertiary education fees.
University Education has had a 118% growth in the number of students that are enrolled in an institution and receiving funding through NSFAS in 2021/2022, said Mr. Sabelo Mtantato, the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) Senior Researcher.
Despite this welcomed growth in university enrolments, the same growth is not reflective amongst Teaching and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges.
The target number of students that were hoped to be enrolled in Teaching and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) Colleges (specifically targets for graduates in Engineering, Physical Sciences and Health Sciences) was not met due to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a result, only 21% of students who were enrolled in a TVET College at the time of the pandemic have graduated with N6 qualifications.
Another reason for the low number of students joining TVET Colleges, is that students don't see the appeal of TVET Colleges and would rather prefer to attend a university instead, believing there are better job prospects available with a university qualification than with a TVET qualification.
Although universities have shown relative success, the urgency to find new funding remains.
The current model that is in place for funding and subsidizing universities is flawed and functions ineffectively, according to experts in the higher education sector. There is the worry that not changing it can result in dire long-term consequences for the sector going forward.
Experts have warned of a variety of issues that could put higher education funding in jeopardy, especially after having to adapt to blended learning after the pandemic.
