Question NW423 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
18 April 2019 - NW423
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)With reference to her media statement issued on 15 February 2019 in which she stated that the Student Housing Infrastructure Programme is working on a range of partnerships to provide an additional 100 000 beds for accommodation of students of public technical and vocational education and training colleges over the next 10 years, what (a) progress has already been achieved in this regard and (b) number of additional beds will be made available at each of our public technical and vocational education and training colleges; (2) will this eventually lead to a bigger intake of students at our public technical and vocational education and training colleges; if so, (a) what growth in numbers is to be expected, (b) when is it envisaged that this growth will happen, (c) what amount should be budgeted for the growth in infrastructure for teaching and learning and (d) how will this be funded?
Reply:
1. (a) The Department is implementing the Student Housing Infrastructure Programme, which aims to provide 100 000 new beds for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college sector over ten years. Three pilot projects are currently underway, and the following progress has been reported:
- The Department has allocated funds from the TVET College Infrastructure Grant to provide bulk services on the Teko Campus of the King Hintsa TVET College. The intention is that the college will construct student residences with 800 beds once the bulk services have been completed as part of a Public Private Partnership;
- A student housing project with 1 200 beds is planned at the Lephalale TVET College in Limpopo. The feasibility study for the project is being funded by the Infrastructure Investment Programme of South Africa, a joint initiative to fund infrastructure projects by the South African government and European Union; and
- The Northlink TVET College plans to develop 1 500 new beds on its Tygerberg Campus following the completion of its campus master plan, which is currently in progress.
(b) These three pilot projects aim to construct 3 500 new beds as part of the initial phase. Subsequent phases over the remaining ten year period will work towards achieving the target of constructing 100 000 new beds on various TVET college campuses.
2. The investments made in student accommodation are not expected to expand enrolments within the short to medium term.
.