Hon Deputy Speaker, the DA supports this report, and it also has to be stated that the portfolio committee embarked on a very thorough and intensive oversight visit to these different institutions. The situation we encountered at the Walter Sisulu University cannot be described in words. The state of the student residences is such that students cannot and should not be accommodated there; they are uninhabitable. Therefore, it begs the question: How did it happen that things deteriorated to that level? How was a situation allowed to deteriorate to a point where a campus is virtually destroyed? Where was the university management - the university council?
The task of the administrator is near impossible. What should be clear from the findings of this oversight visit is that we cannot allow situations at higher education institutions to deteriorate to a point of near collapse. The councils of higher education institutions have to take their fiduciary responsibilities seriously. The DA recommends that the appointment of council members has to be done according to the requirements stated in the Higher Education Act and with the necessary circumspection.
Regarding the FET colleges, it was clear that much needs to be done to make them institutions of first choice. Not only are certificates outstanding for months and even years, but student do not get the results from the department timeously. This often means that students do not know whether they have passed subjects or not and can continue to the next level. It is unacceptable that students should be exposed to this kind of uncertainty.
It is of no use to promote the importance of postschool education and training, but one after the other stumbling block is placed in front of students; ranging from problems with inadequate financial assistance, lack of proper accommodation, transport difficulties, poorly equipped lecturers, problems with textbooks, late release of results and certificates, and not even mentioning management problems. It is clear that government is doing the students of this country a great disservice, and it is failing the youth of our country. [Applause.]