Pretoria - Government says it takes seriously the grievances of students who are protesting against university fee increases.
In a post Cabinet briefing on Friday, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, said President Jacob Zuma’s meeting with student leaders and university management and leadership was called with the express aim of finding a solution to the challenges raised by the students.
“The President will brief the nation later as this matter is of national importance. Cabinet believes that the efforts led by both the President and Minister of Higher Education have and will go a long way in addressing the concerns of students,” he said.
This after Cabinet held extensive discussions regarding the recent student protests against university fee increases for the 2016 academic year.
Minister Radebe said Cabinet sympathises with the concerns of the students who find the cost of higher education too expensive and inaccessible to students from poor families.
“Education is one of the core elements to reduce the current challenges of poverty, inequalities and unemployment the country is facing.
“Our Constitution provides that everyone has the right to basic education and further education which the State, through reasonable measures, must make available and accessible,” said the Minister.
Minister Radebe said the current government has since 1994 made access to education a priority focus area.
He said the National Student Fund Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which has contributed to needy students, has increased over the years from R300 million to R9.5 billion.
“In this academic year, government is supporting 45 000 poor and academically deserving students,” he said.
Minister Radebe said Cabinet was briefed by Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande on the current interaction he is having with all the relevant stakeholders to find a solution to the fees increases.
“Cabinet was also appraised on the work that is been done towards improving the management of NSFAS. The recommendations are to be tabled to Cabinet in its next cycle.
“Cabinet further noted the recently established Presidential Task Team which has been mandated to look into the escalating university fees,” he said.
The Presidential Task Team comprises representatives of students, university councils and the department. He said the team is expected to finalise its work and report as soon as it has concluded its task. - SAnews.gov.za
