c) Programme 3: University Education The purpose of this programme was to develop and coordinate policy and regulatory frameworks for an effective and efficient university education system, to provide financial support to universities, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and the National Institute for Higher Education (NIHE). Within this programme and for the 2011/12 financial year, the Department reported the following: . The Ministerial Statement on Enrolment Planning in universities for 2011/12 to 2012/14 was approved and communicated to all universities. . The Project Plan and Project Steering Committee to oversee the establishment of the two new universities were approved. . The Project plan for the establishment of a national Central Application Service was developed and wok had commenced. . The Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEG) was published in the Government Gazette as policy and implementation had commenced. . The Foundation Phase for Teacher Education was strengthened. . Challenges of the programme included; three universities were placed under administration (University of Zululand, Tshwane University of Technology and Walter Sisulu University), two independent assessments in Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and Central University of Technology (CUT) were undertaken and there was staff shortage within the branch.