Question NW2703 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
02 October 2023 - NW2703
King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
(1)What total number of beds are available for students at (a) private and (b) public student accommodation providers; (2) what total number of the 2023 National Student Financial Aid Scheme students were evicted due to defunding at private student accommodation; (3) whether he had conducted a survey on the state of student accommodation in the Republic in the past three academic years; if not, why not; if so, (4) whether he will furnish Ms C V King with the report of the survey; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (5) what are the details of the Draft Multifaceted Student Housing Strategy that has been approved by the Director-General?
Reply:
- The findings of an International Finance Corporation study which was supported by the Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) are that as of 2020, there were 125 891 beds by public student accommodation providers (TVET Colleges and Universities) and 97 219 beds by private student accommodation providers.
- We will need to request this data from the institutions. We will therefore await advice on whether we should proceed to do so and how long should we give them to provide such information. We may not receive a response from all of them irrespective of the response time we give them.
- The survey was conducted by the International Finance Corporation in 2020, and it was supported by the Department. The report was released in April 2021.
- The report is attached at Annexure A of this response.
- The Strategic Planning Unit may have incorrectly reported that there was a draft strategy and that it was approved by the Director-General. The strategy was never drafted. We will therefore await advice on the way forward.