Question NW736 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

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16 March 2021 - NW736

Profile picture: Julius, Mr J

Julius, Mr J to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether his department has released the Guidelines for the Bursary Scheme for Students in Public Universities 2021 to universities and colleges in all provinces; if not, (a) why not, (b) on what date will the guidelines be sent to the institutions and (c) what is the impact of his department’s failure in this regard on the commencement of classes at the institutions awaiting the guidelines; if so, on what date were the guidelines sent?

Reply:

(a) The university funding guidelines could not be finalized given the uncertainties about the demand for funding and the available budget, which was addressed by Minister Nzimande in his media statement on 8 March 2021. The Bursary Rules and Guidelines policy document, which governs the administration and management of bursaries in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, were distributed to colleges in November 2020.

(b) The funding guidelines for universities for 2021 will be finalised as soon as Cabinet has made a determination in this regard. The Department, in collaboration with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, conducted regional capacity-building workshops for college officials on the revised policy document from November 2020 to December 2020.

(c) The 2021 Guidelines have been kept as close as possible to the 2020 Guidelines.

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