launch of the National Institute for Higher Education, Mpumalanga,
Nelspruit
21 October 2006
"Higher education comes to Mpumalanga"
Premier Thabang Makwetla
MEC Siphosezwe Masango
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Members of the House of Traditional Leaders
Member of Board
Ladies and gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to launch the National Institute for Higher
Education here in Mpumalanga.
The national plan for Higher Education of 2001 provided for the
establishment of a national institute. And now it is a reality. The national
plan clearly identified the lack of provision for higher education in the
Northern Cape and Mpumulanga as a need that had to be addressed.
The launch of the institute is a positive development in higher education
provision. The institute provides additional higher education resources that
complement our 23 universities in South Africa. The two institutes will, once
fully developed, play an important role in responding to the desires and
interest of individuals who are keen to acquire a higher education
qualification.
To ensure coherent provision of higher education in the two provinces, my
predecessor as Minister appointed two working groups, consisting of
representatives from the Department of Education, provincial governments and
higher education institutions. Their task was to develop a framework and draw
up an implementation plan for the establishment of the national institutes for
higher education in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.
The Mpumalanga working group travelled the length and breadth of the
province to consult and to visit existing facilities from which higher
education programmes were then offered in the province. Discussions were also
held with a wide range of stakeholders. The working group also corresponded
with all higher education institutions in the country; several valuable
submissions were received from further and higher education institutions.
The Mpumalanga provincial government also submitted a particularly useful
report together with earlier studies of the possibilities of providing higher
education programmes in the province. The recommendations of the working groups
were accepted, the Higher Education Act, Act 101 of 1997 was amended and boards
were appointed
So here we are to launch the National Institute for Higher Education in
Mpumalanga. The national institutes will serve as the administrative and
governance hubs for the higher education institutions currently operating in
the two provinces. For Mpumalanga, these institutions are the University of
Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology and
the University of South Africa.
The University of South Africa, in particular, plays a significant role as a
distance education provider with a national footprint making higher education
accessible to those in hard-to-reach areas in the province. The national
institutes lay the foundation for new institutional and organisational
forms.
The first task of the national institutes with respect to programme
provision will be to undertake audits of all the courses and programmes
currently on offer in the respective provinces, and to determine whether these
should continue and under what conditions. The audits will begin a process of
aligning the provision of higher education programmes with the needs of the
region and of eliminating any unnecessary duplication.
An important principle underpinning the audits will be that a range of
programmes leading to a range of qualifications within a single field, or
discipline, will be offered by a single provider. For example, within the field
of education, there will be an agreement with a single institution to offer
qualifications that might range from Advanced Certificates in Education (with
several specialist options), to the new Bachelor of Education, the B Ed
(Honours), and perhaps, up to a Masters in Education by coursework and/or
dissertation.
Given the large number of Mpumalanga based matriculants who do not have
post-secondary education, the offering of "foundation programmes" or "bridging
courses" is an area that must be given consideration. Already, the universities
of the Free State and North West are offering such programmes in the Northern
Cape. Special funding will have to be found to fund these programmes and this
is an area where the provincial government as well as the private sector could
play an important role.
It goes without saying that if students are to be attracted to register for
higher education programmes via the national institutes, then the programmes
will have to be as good as can be found on the main campus of the provider
institutions. Furthermore, students will have to be provided with the support
and services that will make attending a national institute a worthwhile and
fulfilling experience.
The institutes will have to become centres of technological and educational
excellence. Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for
programme delivery will probably be a key feature of the programmes. The
national institutes will be expected to provide the necessary teaching spaces,
equipment and local academic support services such as a library and/or
information centre, equipped with internet access and study areas.
As many students in provinces come from disadvantaged socio-economic
backgrounds, personal support services, especially financial services, will
play a very important role. Students registered with the national institutes
have to be provided with access to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme
(NSFAS). Given the challenges faced by young people in the light of the AIDS
epidemic, a student counselling and health service will also be an invaluable
component of the student support structure in the national institutes.
The national institutes will be run by boards. A board, the highest
governing authority within an institute, has certain delegated powers in
respect of the implementation of policy and management. It is important that
the Board in undertaking its work takes into account that the Institute is a
national institution. Hence, consideration has to be given to both national and
provincial needs.
There are 32 000 Mpumalanga students in our universities and universities of
technology. This will continue to be the case. The Institute will respond to
the needs and interest of local communities and local students. They will
provide a higher education learning environment for young students and for
adult students who wish to take up the opportunity to access higher education
programmes.
On 19 July 2006 I had the pleasure of appointing the members of the Board of
the National Institute in Mpumalanga. I have indicated to the Board that there
are currently a number of issues and areas that require further work and
investigation � surveys of employer needs in the province, surveys of student
demand and so on.
Today, Premier Makwetla, MEC Masango, people of Mpumalanga, ladies and
gentlemen, may I introduce to you the Board of the National Institute for
Higher Education in Mpumalanga.
The Chairperson of the Board: Professor Ben Khoapa
Professor Errol Tyobeka
Professor Roy du Pr�
Professor Chris Swanepoel
Professor Calie Pistorius who is currently out of the country on university
business,
Professor Nomathemba Magi
Dr Nomsa Mlondo
Dr Henry van Zyl
Dr Khehla Ndlovu
Mr Bradley Brower
Ms Badanile Mkwanazi
Ladies and gentlemen, my expectations of the Board are high. I know that my
expectations are matched by the expectations of the people of Mpumalanga.
I thank you.
In terms of the amended Higher Education Act, the functions of a national
institute for higher education are to:
* co-ordinate the regional provision of higher education
* ensure the coherent provision of higher education through programme
collaboration between public higher education institutions operating in the
province in question
* advise the Minister on matters relating to the co-ordination of the provision
of higher education in the region in question
* perform any other duty which may be prescribed.
Issued by: Department of Education
21 October 2006
