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By Edwin Naidu
Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane did not have a blue light brigade when she visited Nelson Mandela University as part of her national roadshow to assess the readiness of institutions for higher learning.
When the shuttle she was travelling in had a puncture, the minister hopped onto a university shuttle and was seated next to a student leader.
Unlike the previous BWW-loving incumbent, who was cold and paid lip service to the poor and students, the minister left with a growing reputation for showing empathy and listening to students’ challenges. There is no time for airs and graces when there is a crisis — and a job to be done.
Some complaints were about accommodation hurdles, not knowing when they would have money for food and delayed payments from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for computers inhibiting their studies. Students pleaded with Nkabane to help them. She pledged to try and address their issues with NSFAS.
The visit provided a platform for students in queues for various financial aid support to highlight their challenges with the minister. At the same time, university management also provided updates on ongoing efforts to enhance student access and success.
The minister had a similar meeting at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where she ordered the institution, which was already full, to keep registrations open by a week. While this does not make sense and highlights the administrative nightmare facing universities in the country, at least it shows she makes decisions swiftly.
Her predecessor moved at a snail’s pace. While at UKZN, she also questioned why universities were not revamping their programmes to become relevant.
Universities nationwide face challenges, such as increasing applications versus available capacity, accommodation shortages and student financial aid concerns.
Mindful of the money-making by varsities over the fee for varsity applications, while at Nelson Mandela University, Nkabane criticised universities that charged prospective students an application fee to study at their institutions.
She said universities were becoming a joke. They know how many students they can admit, but they keep taking application fees from students, with some universities charging R200 per application.
She said this was done even they knew they could not accommodate the students at all. She referred to a media report on this practice in January, which alluded to “thugs in red gowns”.
Last month prospective students expressed anger on social media at the amount of money universities were making from application fees while students were being rejected due to a shortage of space.
“We need to sit down with USAf (Universities South Africa) and student formations to come up with a solution.”
She explained that the country had a central application system, but universities were not coming on board.
“We cannot be seen as thugs. We cannot take advantage of the vulnerable – we are messing (with) our children on the ground.”
Nelson Mandela University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa said the university did not charge application fees, which the minister and her delegation applauded.
Prof. Muthwa pointed out to students, the minister and colleagues from NSFAS and the department that none of the problems at the institution could be solved without collaboration.
“Fortunately, our university has a very strong culture of engagement with our students.”
The minister has also appointed a new NSFAS board. However, there is much work to be done. The new team must prioritise governance — not personal enrichment — and not pull the wool over the eyes with the number of students benefitting from funding that masks the problems.
An audit of NSFAS must show whether the country is getting value for money. There have been claims that the system retains permanent students, some of whom take as long as eight years to get a qualification – because they know that on finishing, they could join the ranks of unemployed. What is the success rate of university and TVET students getting funded by NSFAS?
With the new minister hitting the ground running, education should not be seen as a bottomless pit that produces nothing for the nation.
Edwin Naidu is editor of Inside Education.
INSIDE EDUCATION