Universities to determine own fee adjustments for 2017: Nzimande
Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande on Monday said universities will have to determine their own fee adjustments for the 2017 academic year.
Nzimande announced his recommendation during a press briefing in Pretoria, following the Council on Higher Education report for 2017 fee adjustments, as well as minister's ongoing consultations with key stakeholders.
The minister said with the rise in inflation, it's up to every university to decide their increments.
"With the caution that this has to also take into account affordability to students and, therefore, has to be transparent, reasonable and related to inflation-linked adjustments. Our recommendation is that the fee adjustments should not go above 8 percent," Nzimande said.
He also announced a range of measures to assist National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the so-called 'missing middle' to cover any fee increments.
"All NSFAS qualifying students as well as the so-called missing middle will experience a no fee increase in 2017. Government will pay for the fee adjustment, which means the tax payer will pay for the fee adjustment," Nzimande said.
Meanwhile, students are mobilising for free, quality higher education across the country.
"Disturbing our universities and colleges over funding is not the way to go. While the presidential commission does its important work, universities and colleges will not be able to operate with less funds than what they already have. Everything is more expensive today than it was this time last year. That is the reality of inflation," Nzimande said.
Reporting and video by Samkelo Maseko