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Basic Education
Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill: adoption; with Deputy Minister
26 Sep 2023
Tracking the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill in Parliament
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education considered and later adopted the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill. The Bill proposes to amend the South African Schools Act (SASA) of 1996 as well as the Employment of Educators Act (EEA) of ...
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Statistics Amendment Bill: StatsSA briefing; with Deputy Minister
22 Sep 2023
The Portfolio Committee was informed by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) in a virtual meeting that the Statistics Act No.6 of 1999 had to be amended due to a conflict with South African domestic laws. They had conducted study tours and made a comparative analysis of statistical legislation in countries ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Postponed: NSFAS on turnaround strategy, direct-payment system, ICT systems, student accommodation & related matters
20 Sep 2023
The Portfolio Committee met virtually to be briefed by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) on its turnaround strategy to resolve issues arising from the new direct payment system, delays in resolving student appeals, the accreditation of student accommodation, and many other issues. However, the Members were told ...
Basic Education
2023 Examinations-Readiness: DBE & Umalusi briefing; with Minister and Deputy Minister
19 Sep 2023
The Portfolio Committee convened on a virtual platform to receive an updated status report from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Umalusi on learners' examination readiness in 2023. The DBE acknowledged the examination irregularities within the past year and the errors in some of the past examinations, but ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP) & the South African Minerals Extraction Research, Development & Innovation (SAMERDI) strategy
13 Sep 2023
In a virtual meeting, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) presented to the Committee on the South African Mining Extraction Research, Development, Innovation (SAMERDI) strategy and the Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP). The meeting aimed to address the pressing issues ...
Basic Education
BELA Bill national report on submissions & proposed amendments
12 Sep 2023
Tracking the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill in Parliament
he Portfolio Committee intended to address the missing submissions on the Basic Education Law Amendment (BELA) Bill. However, the Committee had received the document only at 6 pm the previous night, leading to a lack of enthusiasm by most Committee members ...
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
DPME Frontline Monitoring & Support; Presidential Hotline Performance; with Minister
8 Sep 2023
In a virtual meeting, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) reported details of its frontline monitoring and support, and progress on implementing the Presidential Hotline.
The Committee observed that the DPME had been doing the monitoring and coming up with recommendations thereafter, but there was little to ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
NSFAS update on disbursement of funding and allowances to students, roll-out of direct-payment system, outstanding student appeals, CEO leave & related matters
6 Sep 2023
The Committee met with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in Parliament to engage on the disbursement of funding and allowances; the new direct payment system; student appeals; the NSFAS query system; the student accommodation accreditation system; and the reasons for the leave of absence of the chief ...
Basic Education
Inclusive Education: DBE briefing
5 Sep 2023
The Committee received a progress report from the Department of Basic Education on the implementation of Inclusive Education.
The Department reported that since 2001, South Africa has been developing an inclusive education schooling system from a White Paper, which only articulates Policy Aspirations rather than imperatives, thus limiting the ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
State of governance: focus on UCT, UNISA & Fort Hare
30 Aug 2023
Video (Part 1)
Video (Part 2)
The Committee met with the University of Cape Town, the University of Fort Hare, and the University of South Africa to receive briefings on a myriad of matters related to governance, administration and other challenges at these institutions.
The University of Cape Town was ...