The Committee met virtually with the Department of Higher Education and Training to receive briefings from the Council on Higher Education and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations on their strategic and annual performance plans.

The Minister's high level overview touched on pivotal matters in the higher education sector. These included the stabilisation of management in the Department, the skills development strategy, and the planned establishment of two new universities. Although increasing student funding would be welcomed, if it was done at the expense of the system, it would be tantamount to self-inflicted jeopardy and take the country backwards. Colleges were currently funded at the rate of 62%, instead of 80%. The Minister emphasised that increasing student funding would almost collapse the country’s public education system, with high rates of failure among students and a loss of personnel. Work on a comprehensive review of student funding, which would include the ‘missing middle’ students, had partially been done, and the a team was being assembled to assess the work already completed. From this comprehensive review, which would include the Heher Commission’s work, a concrete proposal on student funding would emanate and be presented to Cabinet before June.

The Department also announced key senior appointments, which were previously of great concern to the Committee. Some of its medium term strategic framework targets had had to be revised down due to budget shortfalls -- mainly in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and community education and training (CET) programmes – which had also affected the enrolment targets. 

Members were concerned about the continuing increase in university enrolments in the face of the current challenges to the system, and expressed dismay that the budget for TVET colleges had been reduced in the midst of high unemployment rates among the youth, with three million who were not in education or employment. They were also concerned about the budget cuts over the medium term expenditure framework period, which were projected to amount to R20.8 billion. There was a risk that if student funding continued to grow at the expense of university subsidies, universities’ budgets would be constrained, and that would compromise the quality of education. The destruction of university property was strongly condemned by the Committee, which asked the Department for a quantified value of all properties that had been destroyed during student protests.

Members commended the Department for introducing skills programmes that were fit for purpose in TVETs and CETs, as they indicated active participation in the economic reconstruction and recovery plan (ERRP). These interventions would go a long way towards addressing the local skills needs.

Members asked questions about the ERRP; the skills development strategy; vacancy rates; the terms of reference of the steering committee on the establishment of the two new universities; funding shortfalls for the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA); progress on the National Qualifications Framework Bill; the downward revision of enrolments at TVET and CET colleges; and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding model.