Hansard: NA: Unrevised Hansard

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 16 Aug 2016

Summary

No summary available.

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Minutes

 

                                          Memorandum from the Parliamentary Office                                             

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR ORAL REPLY

QUESTION 106

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF QUESTION PAPER: 16/08/2016

(QUESTION PAPER 19 OF 2016)

Prof B Bozzoli (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training:

Since the deadline of the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education has been extended until June 2017, what interim measures will the Government be taking in respect of (a) fees and (b) subsidies to universities in 2017?   

NO1827E

 

 

REPLY:

 

The Presidential Commission on Higher Education and Training was established on 22 January 2016 and given 8 months to carry out its investigation to establish the feasibility of fee-free higher education and training, and 2 months to complete its report and recommendations. This would have meant that the report would be completed by the end of November 2016. The time frame has now been extended to June 2017. The work of the Commission has always been seen as independent and not linked to the current operations, processes and policies within the sector. Recognising this, and that the current fee regime would continue until such time as any new recommendations leads to a change in the status quo, I have on the basis of the recommendations of the Presidential Task Team Report on Short-Term Challenges in University Student Funding, and after consultation with university Vice Chancellors, requested the Council on Higher Education (CHE) to provide me with advice on the possibility of a regulatory framework for university fees. The CHE indicated that it would do this work in two phases, the first phase would deal with the question of 2017 fees, and the second phase would look at a possible long-term framework that takes the outcomes of the Presidential Commission into account. The CHE provided me with their advice on 11 August 2016 and I am currently discussing this advice with a wide range of stakeholders in order to make my recommendation to university Councils, who are the bodies responsible for setting fees within the public higher education system. These discussions are not yet complete and it is therefore premature for Government to announce what interim measures it may be taking in respect of (a) fees and (b) subsidies to universities in 2017. 

 

 

Compiler/contact persons:  

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DIRECTOR – GENERAL

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QUESTION 106 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

 

 

 

 

 

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

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