Gigaba: More needs to be done for higher education

The student movement has correctly put the issue of higher education at the centre of the country’s transformation agenda, Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba said today as he delivered his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) speech to parliament.

“We cannot hope to grow and develop without the skills and intellectual capabilities that our universities and technical training colleges produce.”

The Minister added that the budget already makes an enormous contribution.

“The sector’s budget is the fastest growing element of expenditure over the medium term, rising from R77 billion this year, to R97 billion in 2020/21. This includes the provision of financial assistance to subsidise the education of more than 450 000 students every year.”

But clearly more needs to be done, he said.

“The Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training has delivered its final report to the President and we await the President’s determination and announcement in this regard.

“Although the fiscal constraints we face are real and binding, we must make every effort to ensure that no academically deserving student is excluded due to financial constraints. Further announcements will be made in this regard in the 2018 Budget.”

Confronted by increasingly higher education fees, students staged in a protest in 2015, calling for free education. In 2016, fees were frozen at 2015 levels, with government covering the shortfall. Government recommended a maximum university fee increase of 8% for this year.