The Government of National Unity (GNU) introduced a new cabinet from different parties that form the GNU. Ramaphosa, two weeks ago, named 32 ministerial positions in the Government of National Unity.
President Ramaphosa split the department of higher learning into two; it was previously known as the department of higher education science and innovation. The president appointed Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane minister of higher education and training.
The department has been the centre of corruption, maladministration, and mismanagement of student funds. A research study conducted by Anele Mdepa titled “Higher education funding crises and access.”
Anele writes, “The government developed the higher education sector after 1994, but contradictions emerged between policy intentions and inadequate resource allocation for higher education institutions. Consequently, conflicts among government, management, higher education institutions, and students prompted several student protests over many years.”
The allocation of inadequate resources for higher education institutions has always been a problem. Since the dawn of democracy in 2015, we have seen the FeesMustFall Movement. Students faced funding challenges within NSFAS, and student food and accommodation became a serious problem. Due to NSFAS being unable to pay students allowances, students found themselves kicked out of their accommodations. In the Western Cape, some students had to sleep in a police station due to mismanagement of funds by NSFAS.
In 2023, the Minister of Higher Education dissolved the NSFAS board, and an administrator was appointed to stabilise the ship. The department was also marred by corruption allegations, in which the former Blade Nzimade was accused of receiving kickbacks, which he denied.
The newly appointed Minister says, “Yes, the department of higher learning and training has been in the spotlight for many reasons, among which are critically NSFAS and the funding model.”
The minister adds that the seventh administration is working overtime to ensure that the NSFAS systems are ready for the 2025 application season.
The focus point for the minister will be:
- The sustainability of the Post-School Education and Training in South Africa (PSET) system to ensure that the sector is sustainable.
- Ensuring that there’s a balance between the quality of teaching and learning and the output. To make sure that there’s access and that there’s success for the students, either at universities or TVET colleges, because the skills we want to produce should respond to the needs of the economy.
- We will re-look at the funding model for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
- And intensify the university capacity-to-development programmemememe, which entails a student support programmemememe, a staff development programmemememe, a teachers and professors programmemememe, and a new generation of academics.
- To revisit the curriculum in TVET colleges.
