Free education to be implemented in a fiscally sustainable manner

'Free education to be implemented in a fiscally sustainable manner'

Higher Education Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize has given an assurance that government will implement free education for poor and working class students in a fiscally sustainable manner. 


Hlengiwe Mkhize
GCIS

Mkhize addressed the media in Pretoria on Thursday on this year’s registration process. 


This comes amid calls by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for Universities to allow walk-in registrations following December’s announcement by President Jacob Zuma. 


President Zuma made the announcement despite the fees commission finding that South Africa does not have the capacity to provide free higher education. 


Mkhize briefed the media alongside some members of the interministerial commitee on higher education funding. 


She told the media they have increased the threshold to qualify for financial assistence to students from households with a combined annual income of up to R350 000, from the R122 000 combined income in previous years.


"This policy decision which will be phased in entails, extending the provision of free higher education and trainibg to the children of the bottom 90% of South African households, provided that they meet the academic admission criteria and requirements of the TVET colleges or Universities," said Mkhize.

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She said poor and working class students will be provided with full bursaries for tution and study materials and subsidized accomodation and transport. 


As part of the implementation of free higher education the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will also be converted into a full busary. 


"A number of South Africans were always weary of signing a NSFAS loan because they were afraid of debt. The new 2018 intake won't have any form of debt. It will be a full on bursary and all one needs to do is to perform well," said NSFAS CEO Steven Zwane. 


NSFAS has received 300 000 applications for first year students in 2018 and Zwane says only those with firm offers from a University or TVET College will be provided with funding. 


Mkhize said their approach will allow government to gradually phase in the policy year-on-year over the next five years. 


"The week economy, falling tax revenue growth and rising debt have put significant pressure on public finances. These pressures have limited the space for any new policy commitments. Changes to the PSET system will be undertaken in a fiscally sustainable manner, and reprioritising funding withib existing budgets.” 


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