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By Edwin Naidu
A recent briefing on the state of governance of higher education institutions in South Africa, particularly focusing on the role and responsibilities of university councils, presents a balanced view, highlighting both commendable practices and areas for improvement.
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education requested an update on governance in the tertiary sector following a meeting in November last year.
At the time, tensions at several institutions were on the agenda.
This time though, university councils came under sharp focus, with discussions focusing on strategic leadership, core functions, resource management and transformation.
Areas of concern included the lack of uniformity in inducting new council members, the absence of vice-chancellor performance evaluation systems in some institutions, and failure to submit annual and financial reports by some institutions.
Other issues included recurring race-related incidents such as those at Stellenbosch University, governance challenges and instability at several universities, and legal challenges to independent assessments and panel reports.
While the policy framework emphasises the need for safe and inclusive campus environments, several institutions face challenges in meeting these expectations.
Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane also briefed the committee.
She stated that the student population has grown in the last few years, and the demand for student financing has equally increased.
However, the government was committed to addressing these challenges.
“This is because the government has created access to post-school education and training for the historically marginalised people of South Africa, especially for the children of the poor and the working class.
“Education is a critical tool the government uses to address historical injustices, poverty, and inequalities and equip students to enter the labour force as a driver to build a capable developmental state,” she added.
The challenges surrounding the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) were also discussed.
The minister said the NSFAS must be adequately prepared regarding resources and systems to meet this growing demand.
“Many students have expressed frustration over delayed payments and inefficiencies in NSFAS systems. Our constitutional democracy provides that the people shall govern, which means that the people must play a critical role in the country’s administration. We are committed to getting guidance from different role players in the PSET sector,” she said.
The minister reiterated that she extensively consulted with stakeholders in the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector to solicit input and proposals for policy positions on matters affecting the system.
She said a key goal was to increase the intake of the college system by targeting one million enrolments in community colleges and 2.5 million in public and private TVET colleges by 2030.
“About our universities, we will continue to diversify them based on their strengths and the needs of the communities in which they are located by targeting 1.6 million enrolments by 2030,” she said.
“During these consultations, we have also reaffirmed our commitment to change the size and shape of our PSET system, particularly to expand the TVET college sector,” she said.
The department is also focusing on aligning the national skills need with curriculum content and looking at inputs regarding the review of some of the legislation and policies governing the sector.
Vice-chancellors from various universities, together with principals of TVET colleges also attended the stakeholder meetings.
“… their collective inputs will definitely help shape our policy positions and approaches to matters of teaching and learning and other areas of interest,” the minister said.
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