(1)Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4587 on 3 January 2023, which did not provide a reply to what he intends to do with the cohort of students who would be unable to enrol in tertiary institutions in 2023, he would clarify his intentions in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) noting that he stated in his reply that the question could only be adequately replied to in 2023, what (a) provisions has his department made for the excess number of students who may not be accommodated at the available institutions of higher learning and (b) total number of young persons who applied for entry into institutions of higher learning for 2023 were not absorbed by the relevant institutions?
1. I held a press conference on 24 January 2023 with the focus on post school education and training sector state of readiness for academic year 2023. The press conference outlined the career pathing of all learners, including those could not be accommodated in tertiary institutions.
2. (a) The Department continues to encourage prospective students to look beyond universities as the only option to ...
(1)Whether his department has any plans in place to replace the lecturers from Zimbabwe and Lesotho who have been living and working in the Republic on exemption permits, but who have been told that their services are no longer required by his department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the plans;
(2) whether there has been any communication with the Department of Home Affairs regarding permits for academic staff; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
With regards to university lecturers, the Council of a university is assigned the role of an employer as per the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997) as amended, the Department is not assigned this role. The critical skills list identifies scarce skills which are deemed as critical, it also serves as a reference document when appointing foreign nationals. Universities seeking to appoint foreign ...
Whether the National Student Financial Aid Scheme has set up guidelines for capping student accommodation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NSFAS is currently implementing the 2023 Conditions and Criteria for Funding Students which includes the current cap of R45 000 for student accommodation. There are no other guidelines that propose a different cap.
Clause 5.3.5.6.2 and 5.3.2.6.3 of the 2023 Conditions and Criteria for Funding Students are as follow:
- 5.3.5.6.2 Students living in institution owned accommodation, or leased accommodation qualify for a capped annual ...
Following the appeals process of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), (a) what is the total number of students who have been rejected by NSFAS who have appealed and (b) how does he ensure that these are legitimate rejections, noting the historical consistent mistakes by NSFAS of incorrectly rejecting deserving students?
(a) 126 030 appeals were received from the rejected applications.
(b) To assess funding eligibility NSFAS is reliant of third parties such as:
- Department of Home Affairs (DHA) – to confirm applicants’ identity and parental information,
- South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) – SASSA beneficiaries are automatically funded.
- South African Revenue Services (SARS) – to confirm household income, and others such as credit bureaus.
With reference to the ministerial task team that was commissioned to look at the reconfiguration of the National Skills Fund business operating model so that it becomes an effective, efficient and economically efficient skills development entity, (a) what is the update on the work the ministerial committee has done to date, (b) what impact and/or influence has been noted and (c) how has the entity been improved in becoming an economically efficient skills development agency?
The Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on the reconfiguration of the NSF completed its work in July 2023 and presented its report with recommendations to the Minister.
The recommendations in the report for the purpose of implementation are both medium and long term in nature.
Those of a long-term nature require the amendment of certain parts of the legislation (the Skills Development Act 1998).
The ...
Following the rape of a female student at a private unaccredited residence in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, which additional safety measures has his department taken to improve security in the technical, vocational education and training colleges in the Republic?
The college has received R30 000 000 to renovate hostels at Soshanguve to accommodate students from Soshanguve South and Soshanguve North. There are only three hundred (300) beds for the college therefore priority will be given to female students. The college is looking at other measures to brief security in the student residence.
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Following the brutal murders and attacks against students in tertiary institutions over the past few months, (a) what immediate intervening steps has he taken to ensure that security is strengthened in (i) institutions of higher learning and (ii) all accredited student residences and (b)(i) by what date(s) will the specified intervention(s) be implemented and (ii) how will it be monitored?
The Department) has been working towards finding mechanisms to address the scourge of violence on campuses and residences. Following several engagements with the sector the Department undertook to develop a programme of engagement with all relevant stakeholders with the aim of developing strategic partnerships across the sector to address issues of violence and violent cultures on university campuses. This work was progressed through engagements ...
What (a) total number of persons have completed electrical-related qualifications at all institutions of higher learning during the period 1 January 2015 up to 31 December 2022 and (b) are the relevant details of each (i) such institution of higher learning and (ii) specified year in which such qualifications were obtained?
The table below reflect graduate numbers in electrical-related qualifications per year in each institution. The 2022 audited data will be available at the end of November 2023.
|
Year
|
|
|
|
Institution
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
|
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
|
278
|
263
|
257
|
186
|
169
|
112
|
124
|
|
Central University
|
258
|
213
|
216
|
246
|
354
|
338
|
359
|
|
Durban University of Technology
|
315 ... |
Whether, in light of the recent protests at the University of Witwatersrand and across institutions in KwaZulu-Natal which have been characterised by violent clashes between students and private security personnel, he has found any means of regulating the procurement of private security services by public institutions of higher learning; if not, why not; if so, (a) are their methods of engagement with student protestors regulated and (b) is there consequence management when they use excessive force against student protestors?
The Higher Education Act (Act 101 Of 1997) as amended, does not give the Minister the authority to regulate procurement of private security services by public universities.
(a)The conduct of private security companies, including how they engage with student protesters, is regulated by the Private Security industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). Through the PSIRA Act of 2001, PSIRA is granted powers to "exercise effective control ...
(1)What total number of students are accommodated by (a) universities and (b) private student residences at each university in the Republic;
(2) whether there are any plans to reduce private student residences in the next three financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details
- Total number of students accommodated by universities are approximately 367 047.
- Total number of students accommodated by private student residences are approximately 335 387.
|
CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
|
University owned
|
Private Owned
|
|
Not Private
|
23 641
|
|
|
Private
|
|
4 034
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
|
|
|
|
Not Private
|
12 177
|
|
|
Private
|
|
1 920
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH
|
|
|
|
Not Private ... |
