Chairperson, the EFF rejects this budget of the Department of Higher Education and Training. The EFF believes that free post-school education is possible. The current National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS, funding model traps graduates in debt. The EFF calls for all student debts to be cancelled, Comrade Blade Nzimande.
Both Sol Plaatje University and Mpumalanga University currently take fewer than 400 students and the department gives us a targeted increase in intake of 10 000 in 10 years. This will not meet the growing demand. Where must the other learners go to study?
We call for the expansion of all existing universities by 50% in five years. Transformation of this sector requires radical investment in the expansion of the system, investment in infrastructure, and the funding of more African postgraduates with a view to attracting them to academia.
Finally, all sector education and training authorities, Setas, must be in line with industrial policy. I thank you. We reject the budget.