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By Lungile Ntimba
Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is set to convene a two-day stakeholder meeting this week to assess the readiness of the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector for the 2025 academic year.
The minister will be engaging with stakeholders from student formations, institutional governance bodies and key entities within the PSET sector. This includes representatives from universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and Community Education and Training colleges.
Ministerial liaison officer Camagwini Mavovana said the meeting would primarily focus on reviewing progress made in tackling delays in student funding disbursements, TVET infrastructure development and ICT improvements.
They would also explore strategies to ensure alignment between curriculum content and national skills priorities, as well as strengthening institutional governance, safety and security at PSET institutions.
Expanding access to PSET opportunities and enrolment increases in colleges and universities by 2030 would be discussed.
Last week, it was revealed that once again there was a lack of sufficient space for students. News24 reported that a total of 337,158 matriculants secured university admission, but there were only 202,000 places.
The University of Johannesburg received 693,990 first-year applications, yet it could only offer 10,550 places.
The North West University received 390,000 applications and only had 12,937 places.
The University of Pretoria received 355,829 applications and only has space for 9000 students.
Mavovana said the meeting would also prioritise challenges of student accommodation, ensuring that student housing met both living and learning needs, focusing on affordability, accessibility and student safety.
He said the minister would also address inefficiencies in student funding systems, focusing on improving the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
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