Hon House Chair, I will introduce all the reports at the same time. I will start with the report on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS.
The committee considered the budget and strategic and annual performance plans of NSFAS and found that the scheme has made progress with implementing the recommendations of the Ministerial Review Committee. It continues to ensure that poor and academically deserving students access further and higher education and training through the awarding of loans and bursaries.
NSFAS was in the process of creating a central application system. There was a project under way with the Public Investment Corporation and the Government Employees Pension Fund to assist students who fell above the current NSFAS threshold but whose parents were unable to pay for their studies. The committee noted with concern that institutions of higher education did not apply the same policy on upfront payment and this affected poor students. It was recommended that NSFAS look into this matter.
The committee also noted that Bachelor of Technology, BTech, students were currently excluded from financial aid. It is recommended that the department consider funding poor students in their fourth year at the universities of technology.
In its presentation of the 2012-13 budget and strategic plan, the Council for Higher Education reported that it managed to offer several pieces of advice to the Minister. These included the unbundling of the University of Limpopo; the establishment of the two universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape; and the feasibility of introducing a four-year diploma or degree courses and graduate community scheme.
The committee noted with concern that the filling of vacant positions, especially for senior management, remained a challenge for the entity. The committee recommended that the entity should try to fill all the vacant positions and should also convene a special meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the shortage of local black Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, students. The findings of the report on the SA Qualifications Authority, SAQA, budget and strategic plan, dated 16 May 2012, were that SAQA was experiencing budgetary constraints in relation to its strategic objectives. A higher percentage of its budget was used for personnel costs. The committee also noted with concern that the recognition of prior learning continues to remain an unfunded mandate. The radio campaign and career advice services were working well and should be expanded.
The committee paid an oversight visit to the University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Zululand and Mangosuthu University of Technology. The findings at the University of Zululand were that the university was placed under administration as of 1 May 2011 and the administrator and the vice chancellor were working well together. There was a good relationship between them. The administrator was busy implementing the terms of reference, as stated in the Government Gazette, addressing the challenges that the institution was faced with. The forensic audit investigation was in operation. Based on observation, teaching and learning was not disturbed and the university was getting back on track.
The Mangosuthu University of Technology was out of the administration period and had just appointed a vice chancellor. It was in the process of restoring the academic dignity of the institution. There were challenges, such as low throughput rates, a shortage of student accommodation and inadequate computer laboratories. However, on the whole, the shape of the institution was getting back on track and there were no hindrances in the delivery of education on that campus.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal is one of the success stories of merged institutions. This is a leading example of a merged institution in South Africa that is operating very well. The university also struggles with the issue of inadequate student accommodation and the financial exclusion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
There were cases of financial exclusion, the withholding of student results, low graduation and throughput rates and inadequate infrastructure in all three of the institutions visited.
The recommendations of the committee were aimed at addressing the issues of governance. The committee recommended that the department should ensure that the university appointed suitable, qualified candidates with an interest in higher education to become members of the council. Most of the governance issues arose from that. The issue of student leadership should also be handled carefully. The other recommendation was around the withholding of results, because it was disadvantaging students who had qualified and should be graduating. They were prevented from seeking employment, which would enable them to repay the institution. That money would revolve and help other students. A recommendation was also made on the issue of infrastructure. It was noted that it was a common challenge in almost all the institutions of higher learning that inadequate infrastructure remained a serious concern for the previously disadvantaged institutions of higher education. The department should consider allocating more in infrastructure grants to these universities.
The last visit was to Umfolozi, Umgungundlovu and Thekwini Colleges for Further Education and Training. The committee recommended that the FET colleges needed to explore additional funding streams to assist students who did not qualify for participation in the NSFAS bursary scheme; should do an institutional audit on accommodation; needed to provide additional funding for transport for off-campus students; should release results on time - that was highlighted as one of the challenges; and actively pursue partnerships with local industries. There must be a partnership between the FET college and local industry so that students are given the opportunity to use the skills they have acquired.
Lastly, the committee recommended that the FET colleges needed to improve student support services to ensure that students remained in the system until they graduated and completed their studies.
There was no debate.
Chair, I move - That the Reports be adopted.
There has been a request for declarations. I will now allow members of political parties three minutes each to make declarations.
Declaration of vote:
Mr Chairperson, although the DA supports the report on the presentation by NSFAS to the portfolio committee, it is necessary also to emphasise the critical issue regarding the way in which the funding to students is administered, specifically in relation to the availability of funds when students register at the start of the academic year.
Many students who are dependent on NSFAS funding do not have the necessary funds for accommodation, food and transport when the year starts. As a result, they start on the back foot and that in turn compounds the difficulties they have to deal with in their academic endeavours. NSFAS should seriously and as a matter of urgency reconsider the way in which funding is allocated to the different institutions of higher education and training.
With regard to the portfolio committee report on the oversight visit to FET colleges and universities in KwaZulu-Natal, the DA also supports the report as being a true reflection of what the committee experienced at the time, as well as recommendations made. However, it needs to be said that the picture portrayed by the vice chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal does not tally with the allegations that have surfaced of financial mismanagement, racism and nepotism at the university.
This is a university that was considered to be one of the best, its medical faculty, in particular. Although the Minister of Higher Education and Training has reacted by stating that the university council should look into the matter, this is not going to solve the problem. The fact of the matter is that this council has done nothing to deal with the matter since these allegations and complaints have been surfacing.
Our country, the youth of the country and the economy cannot afford an institution of higher education being mired in controversy with allegations of financial mismanagement, nepotism and corruption. The credibility of the university has to be restored as a matter of urgency. The DA therefore recommends that the university be visited again to determine what the problems are and how best to deal with them. [Applause.]
Motion agreed to.
Report on Budget and Strategic Plans for 2012-13 of National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, and Council on Higher Education, CHE, accordingly adopted.
Report on Budget and Strategic plans for 2012-13 of South African Qualifications Authority, SAQA, accordingly adopted.
Report on Oversight Visit to University of Zululand, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Umfolozi FET College, Umgungundlovu FET College, Central Applications Office, Thekwini FET College and Mangosuthu University of Technology from 24 to 27 January 2012 accordingly adopted.