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Roundup: Consultations continuing on university fees in SA: authorities

Xinhua, September 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Consultations are still continuing on 2017 university fees, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) said on Wednesday as violence re-erupted in some institutions of higher learning over possible fee rises.

The DHET denied "misleading reports" suggesting that the government has already reached a firm position on university fee adjustments for 2017.

The correct position was that the government has yet to pronounce itself on university fee adjustments for 2017, DHET Director-General Gwebinkundla Qonde said.

Qonde said the DHET has noted with concern the continuing student unrest at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where students destroyed university property in protest against possible fee increases.

After Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande recently received the report of the Council on Higher Education on their recommendation for 2017 fees, he decided to gather further views from all stakeholders, including students and university councils, before proceeding with any announcement on the matter.

"These delicate consultations are continuing," Qonde said.

"We are hopeful that these current consultations with all stakeholders will conclude successfully, with an announcement in this regard expected to be made later this month," Qonde added.

The government has over the past two decades invested significant resources to assist students who come from poor families through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

It is also committed to ensuring that this support is strengthened going forward, as it continues to progressively implement free higher education for the poor as per the current policy, according to Qonde.

"Government is also committed to providing better support for middle class students. It recognizes the burden that working and middle class families bear in supporting their children through basic education and into higher education, and the need to find workable solutions for these groups that are not currently supported through NSFAS," he added.

The Council on Higher Education has proposed that institutions increase their fees by six percent for the 2017 academic year.

Students have threatened to disrupt institutions of higher learning if their demand for zero fee increase is not met.

President Jacob Zuma has instructed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, as well as Nzimande to find money for another zero-percent fee increase for 2017.

Nzimande has earlier warned that zero fee increases would force universities to down size or shut down certain programmes.

South African universities were hit by widespread protests over fee increases last year. According to the DHET, the unrest cost more than 145 million rand (about 10.8 million US dollars) in damage.

Following the unrest, Zuma appointed a commission to look into the students' concerns.

The government then suspended fee increases for 2016 and provided universities with billions of rand for the shortfall. Endit