Education and the student representatives in Pretoria today
18 September 2006
The Minister of Education, Mrs Naledi Pandor, MP, today held a lengthy
meeting with student representatives from various student organisations in the
higher education sector including the South African Union of Students
(SAUS).
The Minister had invited the organisations to the meeting to, among other
matters, brief the student leaders about plans for the re-capitalisation of the
Further Education and Training (FET) colleges and progress on mergers and
incorporations of Higher Education Institutions (HEI).
Minister Pandor reiterated her commitment to expand the number of students
attending FET colleges and expressed satisfaction with the progress of mergers
and incorporations of HEI, while also pointing out that there was much to be
done to meet the objectives elaborated in the National Plan for Higher
Education (NPHE).
The student representatives raised a number of issues with the Minister
ranging from dissatisfaction with access to the National Student Financial Aid
Scheme (NSFAS) and interests and repayments rules of the scheme, powers of
councils and management, high number of student dropouts and the looming
closure of historically disadvantaged campuses.
The Minister informed the meeting that several institutions were still
formulating their academic plans and that she would look into the closure
alluded to by the students.
She further informed the meeting that thus far there has been no closure of
any campus of any merged institution.
She expressed the view that the leadership should ensure it has full facts
on a matter before public statements are made. The Minister also encouraged the
students to support and promote academic success among students as part of
their campaigns on exclusions.
She repeated her views that protest on campuses should be conducted in a
manner that promoted democracy and respected rights of all individuals.
Destruction of property cannot be defended, she stressed.
Contact: Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: (012) 312 5538
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
18 September 2006
