Parliament on Higher Education Amendment Bill

Committee satisfied with inputs at hearings on Higher Education Amendment Bill

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has completed public hearings into the Higher Education Amendment Bill and voiced its satisfaction with the quality of inputs received from the various sectors that participated, including civil society, labour unions, academia and student organisations. Also present in the meeting were state law advisors, and legal advisors from the Department of Higher Education and Training and Parliament.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Yvonne Phosa, said the public hearings provided various perspectives and have enriched and deepened Committee Members’ insights on the Bill.

“In the law-making process of Parliament public participation is crucial. The Committee is in a better position to entertain and analyse what South Africa advised it to include or not include in the Bill,” Ms Phosa said.

The two-day public hearings heard oral submissions from 15 key stakeholders. All the submissions welcomed the Bill, but also raised issues of concern, particularly on such issues as institutional autonomy and accountability, ministerial directives, disqualification of fraudulent qualifications and setting of transformation goals by the Minister, among other things.

“The intention is to make sure that South Africa’s higher education benefits the population in line with the National Development Plan objectives of the sector. The sector has to transform and ensure that inequality and poverty are addressed, and that the poor are well equipped to access opportunities,” Ms Phosa said.

“Through the hearings, the Committee has gathered information for further scrutiny and consideration in their deliberations on the Bill. We are satisfied that some stakeholders acknowledged consultation with them by the Department on the Bill,” she said.

The Department of Higher Education and Training will comment on the submissions, after which the Committee will deliberate on the areas raised during submissions.

For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Sibongile Maputi
Tel: 021 403 8041
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za

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