Question to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology - NW2401

30 August 2017 - NW2401

Cassim, Mr Y to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(1)What were the (a) overall budgets of each Student Representative Council in each campus of the (i) University of KwaZulu-Natal, (ii) Mangosuthu University of Technology, (iii) Durban University of Technology and (iv) University of Zululand in the (aa) 2015-16 and (bb) 2016-17 financial years and (b) findings of the auditor-general in each case; (2) whether the auditor-general made recommendations on the budgets of the specified Student Representative Councils in the specified financial years; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (3) what was the overall state subsidy for each student at each of the specified universities in each of the specified financial years?

Source
Link

Reply:

(1) The Department does not receive infomation on the overall budgets of Student Representative Councils and neither does the annual financial reports reflect these budgeted amounts. The Auditor-General does not conduct audits at universities as these audits are undertaken by private auditing firms.

(2) See reponse to (1).

(3) The table link below summarises the total state grant for each university and calculates the budget per Full Time Equivalent (FTE) student.

https://pmg.org.za/files/RNW2401-170830Table.pdf

The overall state subsidy for each university is based on block and earmarked grants as set out in the annual public document, i.e. Ministerial Statement on University Funding, which is available on the Department’s website.

When comparing the budget allocation per FTE student of universities, it should be noted that the offering of certain academic programmes, such as Medicine and Engineering, are more expensive to offer than other programmes, and that the University of Zululand does not offer these programmes.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 2401 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING