Question NW1745 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
26 June 2018 - NW1745
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)With reference to each public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college, what maximum number of students, under optimum conditions, can be accommodated in student residences under the control of the relevant public TVET college; (2) what number of students have been accommodated during the first quarter or trimester of 2018 in student residences under the control of each relevant public TVET college; (3) what number of beds have been unoccupied due to (a) vandalism or lack of maintenance funds, (b) colleges lacking student numbers to be at theoretically maximum numbers, (c) financial limitations in bursaries available for poor students and (d) other factors leading to underutilisation of student accommodation?
Reply:
- The maximum number of students that can be accommodated in student residences under the control of public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges is 18 574.
- 16 467 Students were accommodated during the first quarter or trimester of the 2018 academic year in student residences, i.e. 6 821 National Certificate (Vocational) and 9 646 Report 191 students.
- There are 2 107 unoccupied beds in college residences of which 352 were due to vandalism, 814 were due to a lack of maintenance, and the remaining 941 were due to refurbishments being undertaken.
Reference to factors such as a shortage of students or financial limitations did not lead to the underutilisation of student accommodation. There are sufficient numbers of students enrolled in TVET colleges to fill student residences to capacity. Furthermore, the increased bursary allocation from R2.437 billion in 2017 to R5.164 billion in 2018 is adequate to support students with accommodation allowances to fill student residences to capacity. Some colleges have found that the maximum allocation of R21 000 per annum is insufficient to accommodate students within the colleges’ residences. This amount will be reviewed for the 2019 academic year through a task team that has been established to make recommendations on the allocation of travel and accommodation allowances.