Minister Blade Nzimande Addresses Challenges faced by Higher Learning Students
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has, as is the case during this time of the year, been closely following the opening, registration and commencement of the 2022 academic year in all our universities and TVET colleges throughout the country.
The Minister is encouraged by the level of commitment to institutional engagements between management and the Student Representative Councils (SRCs) to resolve all outstanding challenges.
Progress in engagements have been realised through the resolution of many of the initial registration challenges raised by students in the past two weeks.
This includes concerns raised by students on registration, unblocking of returning students, payment of allowances, historic debt, mandatory vaccinations and accommodation issues. “I therefore would like to encourage both the management and students’ leaders to continue to find institutional based solutions to the outstanding challenges, using the framework provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training,” said Minister Nzimande.
Minister Nzimande urges all institutions to ensure that whilst they are working to resolve all remaining challenges, they must also ensure that the security and safety of students is guaranteed, as well as the protection of public institutional property. “There should be no students left to sleep in unsafe environments because their registration is pending finalisation.
I therefore urge all our institutions to work with the Student Representative Councils (SRC) to ensure that all those students who are not as yet registered are provided the necessary care and support, and where appropriate, to be provided with temporary accommodation, in line with the institutional extension of registration,” said Minister Nzimande.
The Minister said whilst institutions are working on ensuring that all students are safe, students have an equal obligation to ensure the safety and protection of the university or private property.
