Cape Town - The Department of Higher Education and Training has accepted a proposal for the establishment of a monitoring and oversight body to deal with challenges of transformation in higher institutions.
Last year, the Ministry of Education established an expert committee of individuals from higher education and civil society to investigate progress towards transformation and social cohesion and the elimination of discrimination in public higher education institutions.
This was in response to growing allegations of discriminatory practices and policies within higher education institutions.
According to a report released by the committee at the time, it proposed that a body should be formed to oversee discrimination in particular with regard to racism and sexism at higher institutions.
Accepting the proposal on Wednesday at a Ministerial Committee in Cape Town, departmental Minister Blade Nzimande said it was clear that the department needed to give more attention to this particular matter.
"We call on higher education institutions and invite the public to engage the issues of racism and discuss ways and means to get rid of racism in our society," Minister Nzimande said.
He said the oversight body, which will be based in the department's office will also complement the work of the Council on Higher Education (CHE).
Further details regarding its composition, structure and brief will be released in due course.
The minister will later this evening meet with the leadership of Higher Education South Africa (HESA) and request them to consider the development of a transformation compact between higher education institutions and the department.
HESA will also be requested to include vice chancellors in performance management contracts and be held responsible for transformation.
"There is a need for institutions to consider the extent to which the curriculum has been transformed to play a role in the socialisation of students in accordance with the values of the constitution and for broader participation in society.
"Proposals related to student learning needs and the establishment of a four year undergraduate degree has been referred to the CHE for advice and proposals on the implementation of the language policy that has been referred to the CHE for advice," Minister Nzimande said.
