Pretoria - While government is sympathetic to students’ calls for free tertiary education, efforts should be towards ensuring that the 2016 academic programme is completed while still finding medium to long term solutions, says President Jacob Zuma.
Addressing the Heads of Mission (HoM) conference taking place at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria on Tuesday, President Zuma said government understands the need to ensure that children of the poor and the working class obtain higher education.
“There is therefore no need for violence and the kind of protests we have seen, which give an impression that students think government is opposed to what they are asking for.
“We are not opposed to the call, we support it. It is a noble call. We also urge them to support the orderly processes of finding solutions to this important challenge. They must not break doors that are already open,” President Zuma said on Tuesday.
What is worrying about the protests is the violence, arson and destruction of property. President Zuma said police will continue to ensure that those who use genuine grievances to promote criminal acts are arrested and face the full might of the law.
Police have confirmed that 567 people have been arrested in 265 cases during fees protests over the last eight months. The charges included violence, intimidation and malicious damage to property.
President Zuma assured South Africans that education remains a key priority of government. This can be seen in the fact that 80% of schools are no-fee schools and the children of the poor and the working class do not pay fees.
With regards to higher education, President Zuma quoted the Freedom Charter, which states that “Higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships awarded on the basis of merit”.
The expansion of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), he said, is part of efforts of ensuring that more children of the poor and the working class attend universities, universities of technology and technical and vocational training colleges.
“We have also gone beyond the call of the Freedom Charter to support students on the basis of merit, as well as need.
“It is in this vein as well that in response to the call of students, government is to again carry the costs of fee increases for children of parents who cannot afford the increases, as announced by the Minister of Higher Education and Training.”
Help for the missing middle
For the 2017 academic year, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has ensured that poor students who receive assistance from NSFAS, middle class and the "missing middle" do not pay any fee increase.
Students from families with an annual income of up to R600 000 will not pay any fee increase.
Government has further recommended to universities that the fee increases should not exceed 8%.
The subsidy will benefit almost 70% of all undergraduate students in universities and colleges.
A judicial commission of inquiry, chaired by Judge Heher, has been established. President Zuma urged all interested parties to make presentations to the commission.
President Zuma also urged the Heads of Mission to share helpful experiences and explore more partnerships and new areas of cooperation that can broaden educational opportunities for South African youth abroad.
This could be in the form of scholarships, exchange programmes and vocational skills training programmes, among others.
“I believe we can optimise the scientific and cultural exchanges that we often commit to in our bilateral relations,” the President said. - SAnews.gov.za
