The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, today, 18 October 2016 held a meeting with business leaders under the auspices of the National Business Initiative, hosted by Sanlam in Sandton.
The meeting was convened by Minister Nzimande to discuss the critical role of business in supporting and finding solutions and new models to achieve sustainable university education and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college system for South Africa.
The meeting was briefed by the Chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Mr Sizwe Nxasana on the work done to investigate a funding model for the poor and “missing middle” students for post-school education and training sector. The model is a public-private partnership where funding can be contributed into a single fund earmarked for post school education and training system.
Mr Nxasana, as the Chairperson of the Ministerial Task Team to develop a comprehensive funding and support for poor and “missing middle” students have been doing work with business leaders and the Department of Higher Education and Training to design a public private partnership model.
The business leaders, convened by the Chairperson of National Business Initiative, Mr Cassim Coovadia, expressed their strong support for the presented funding model.
The meeting further agreed that the issues raised by students for access to higher education for the poor and those who cannot afford are legitimate and should be addressed. They believed that the model presented by Mr Nxasana is part of a process of addressing these concerns and should be supported for implementation. Therefore, dialogue should continue while students go back to class and the academic programme resumes, which is in the national interest.
Minister Nzimande has said that the Ministerial Task Team final report has already been submitted to his office will be processed through Cabinet for decision making by government.
The Minister and business leaders also called for all sectors of society to get involved in finding lasting solutions to the current situation in higher education.
“The country cannot afford to lose the 2016 academic programme as it will have dire consequences for the economy, students and matriculants who are looking forward to attending post-school education in 2017. We reiterate our call for members of society to be part of the effort to save the academic programme” said Minister Nzimande.
Minister Nzimande expressed his appreciation to members of the Ministerial Task Team for the report and thanked them for all their work and commitment in executing this important task.
Enquiries:
Harold Maloka
Cell: 082 847 9799
