Question to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology - NW446

15 March 2016 - NW446

Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

Whether he is continuously engaging with students at tertiary institutions at a personal level and proactively interacting with university authorities, as well as with the private sector and influential individuals, in order to find comprehensive solutions to student grievances and thereby guiding students away from resorting to arson, violence, damage to property and thuggery to make themselves heard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) engagement, (b) agreed solutions and (c) successes of his personal engagement?

Source
Link

Reply:

a) I continuously engage stakeholders on various issues affecting the Post-School Education and Training sector, e.g. taking forward the many progressive resolutions from the Higher Education Summit in order to accelerate the much-needed transformation in our higher education system. The Department recognises the urgency of addressing the big and enduring questions of transformation raised at this summit and the importance of new and different ways of engaging on university campuses so that transformation debates are characterised by dignity and recognition of diverse perspectives. The Department will in due course be announcing processes to take these matters forward.

Since the #FeesMustFall campaign, engagements with stakeholders have been intensified on the role that they each could play. I have further met with, amongst others, the following organisations:

African National Congress (ANC);
African Nation Congress Youth League (ANCYL);
Congress of South African Students (COSAS);
Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU);
Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO);
Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC);
National Health Education and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU);
Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (PASMA);
South African Communist Party (SACP);
South African Democratic Students Movement (SADESMO);
South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU);
South African Further Education and Training Student Association (SAFETSA);
South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO);
South African Students Congress (SASCO);
South African Union of Students (SAUS);
United Democratic Students Movement (UDESMO);
Universities South Africa (USAf); and
Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA).

Further meetings are being planned with Inter alia the Faith Communities and Chapter 9 institutions.

b) The student leadership and Vice-Chancellors have agreed to form a task team to deal with all outstanding matters, which includes insourcing and the “missing middle”.

c) I regard all these engagement as having yielded a huge success as many of our institutions have headed the call to return to classes at the beginning of this academic year.

Compiler/Contact Persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 446 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING