ActionSA’s higher education funding plan is the most credible of any political party
Speech by Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President
Members of the media,
Actioners,
And most importantly, the young people of our beloved country.
Today, I address you on behalf of ActionSA on a topic that is very dear to me – ensuring that South African youth are empowered, through education, to pursue the life they dream of.
Growing up in the poor area of GaRamotse in Hammanskraal, about 50km north of Pretoria, during the 1960s, it was my grandfather who showed me the importance and power of education as the route to self-reliance.
He saw how tough life was and told me: “God gave us brains to face and beat these hard times”.
Back then, my mom was the only one earning an income for our family. She worked as a domestic worker, living in the backroom of a white family in Johannesburg, while I was raised with the help of my three sisters.
It was my grandfather’s advice that compelled me to get out of poverty and pursue a higher education degree.
I passed my Matric in 1978 and enrolled for a BAdmin Degree at the University of The North in 1979, which is today called the University of Limpopo.
However, my studies were cut short when the apartheid government suddenly shut down the university during the national state of emergency during my second year of studies in 1980.
Still, I never stopped believing in the power of education. I always told my kids to look for chances to learn and study, and now I help support scholarship programs for students across South Africa.
I believe that access to quality education should not be a luxury accessible only by the few, but a tool available to the masses to provide a pathway out of the cycle of poverty and unemployment that entraps so many South Africans.
Education is the key to upward mobility and overcoming the legacy of apartheid where access to quality education was a function of the colour of our skin.
Apartheid may have fallen, but the barriers to higher education have not. It is a great injustice that 30 years after the end of apartheid, millions of South Africans face insurmountable challenges to pursuing post-matric studies.
Fellow South Africans,
Today, ActionSA wants to table our plans to right this wrong.
Today, ActionSA wants to share our vision of expanding higher education opportunities to as many people as possible in South Africa.
Quality education has been a core value of ActionSA from the start. We maintain that quality education is one of the best tools for people to empower themselves, and improve not only their lives, but the lives of their families.
That is why we have committed that under an ActionSA government, no academically qualifying student will be excluded from further education because they lack the funds to study.
In the same way that we believe that schools in township communities should be on the same standard as those found in suburban areas, we believe that everyone in the country should have the opportunity to higher education as long as they meet the academic requirements to do so.
Education and the possibility for upward mobility should not be a luxury, it should be a basic right.
But, the ruling party has failed to open the doors of learning by failing to dismantle the barriers to access for many South Africans.
Fellow South Africans,
There is no doubt that many of South Africa’s higher education centres are in crisis, while too many students are prohibited from accessing tertiary education due to financial exclusion.
Despite repeated promises and investigations into higher education funding, South Africa has made little progress in expanding access to higher education.
Seven years after the release of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Feasibility of making High Education and Training Fee-free in South Africa, issues regarding funding for the so-called “missing middle” of students exist.
These are students who do not qualify for funding under NSFAS, but also do not qualify for commercial lending alternatives. They are left without an option, and without the hope of a better future.
It is simply unacceptable that, 30 years after democracy, students are excluded from obtaining a tertiary education because they lack the funds. Not while our government wastes billions on propping up failing SOEs and allows limited public funds to be stolen by self-interested cadres.
Many of matriculants who have joined us today face an uncertain future, not sure if they would be able to attain tertiary education opportunities or skills to enter the workplace.
Meanwhile, institutions such as NSFAS have been plagued with corruption allegations as thousands of students go homeless or without food.
Tertiary institutions across the country suffer from maladministration and our very own ministers face allegations of buying their degrees, thereby reducing the credibility of South African qualifications.
And, our centres of higher learning fail to address the critical skills shortage currently facing South Africa, from software developers, engineers, and scientists.
For us to fix South Africa, and build a more prosperous nation, we urgently need to address the funding crisis alongside reforms to our institutions of learning.
Fellow South Africans and particularly the youth of South Africa,
Today I want to commit to you that an ActionSA government will significantly expand and improve access to a variety of post-matric opportunities, whether through traditional academic routes in universities, or via colleges dedicated to technical skills and vocational training.
Yesterday, student leaders from across South Africa gathered in Johannesburg to further develop ActionSA’s plan to address the issue of financial exclusion from further education.
Their deliberations were borne of a resolution at our inaugural policy conference in September last year where we resolved that that ActionSA would develop a proposal around student funding and accommodation.
Today I want to give you a glimpse of this plan, that will detail our approach to expanding access to further education not only by removing financial barriers, but through a comprehensive plan to address the institutional failures of the higher education system.
This includes:
- – Increasing financial support to academically qualifying students, including tuition, accommodation and living expenses.
- – Expanding our network of quality institutions of higher education to ensure to alleviate capacity constraints.
- – Investing in new public-sector student accommodation opportunities to address the shortage we currently face.
- – Increasing the opportunities for technical and vocational training by investing in new TVET colleges, re-introducing specialised training colleges such as teaching, policing, nursing, agriculture and artisanal skills, like plumbing and electrical work.
- – And, expanding the lifelong skills development programs, to ensure our people always have opportunities to gain additional skills, throughout their careers.
I have never believed in making promises I cannot keep, so I want to be honest that this will not happen overnight. ActionSA believes that government has a responsibility to be transparent about what is and is not possible.
I say this because while it is our dream that one day we can introduce fee-free education for all students, we must accept the reality we face as a country that suffers from low economic growth, a declining tax base and sustained unemployment of over 40%.
While we work towards growing our economy through our plan for Economic Prosperity, we will achieve our goal of ensuring that no academically qualify student will be excluded from further education through aggressive reprioritisation of the national budget away from wasteful expenditure like SOE bailouts and VIP security.
Combined with reforms to NSFAS alongside the introduction of our Opportunity Fund, we can remove barriers to funding access for all South Africans.
This, my fellow South Africans, is entirely possible as long as we have the political will to make it happen. The political will to take action!
Let me say this again – under an ActionSA government, no academically qualifying student will be excluded from further education because they lack the funds to study.
We will ensure that student funding will be a top priority, ahead of any government expense.
And with the establishment of ActionSA’s one of the kind Opportunity Fund, we will ensure that public funds that currently go to enriching entrepreneurs to empowering the young people of South Africa.
The Opportunity Fund will radically expand access to tertiary education by not only funding students, but also building new higher education facilities.
Fellow South Africans,
When ActionSA says quality education is one of our core values, we do not simply want to talk the talk.
But, through our plans, we want to show that we put words to action. Because, only ACTION will fix South Africa.
Today we want to demonstrate that we have spent countless hours deliberating on a credible approach that will address the crisis.
We believe the proposals we are tabling today can once and for all ensure that doors of higher education are open.
I thank you.
ActionSA Presents First Credible Pathway Towards Fixing Our Higher Education System with Expanded Access and Improved Quality
Tuition – Presented by Reuben Coetzer
There is a well-known Zulu saying: ‘Umgagijimi uma indlu yakho ivuliwe Umlilo’, which means that you do not run away when your house is on fire.
South-Africans it is clear that our figurative house of Tertiary education is not just on fire, it has burned to the ground.
As ActionSA we do not shy away from a challenge and this morning we will through practical, sustainable solutions outline how we will, brick by brick, rebuild the state of South-Africa’s tertiary education system, and expand access to funding so that no academically qualifying student is financially excluded.
In the first instance, it is important to understand that this policy won’t deliver change overnight. At ActionSA we believe in being honest and not over promising. But, we believe that change can start immediately.
To achieve universal access to higher education funding, an ActionSA government will establish a framework to ensure a sustainable and inclusive funding model for all South African students. This will serve as a foundation for ensuring future economic growth and employment, and provide young people with a path to upward mobility.
This morning I would like to focus on the issue of tuition fees, and ActionSA’s approach to funding. My fellow students will make some additional remarks regarding accommodation and living expenses to ensure that students are supported holistically.
A well-rounded student should be able to focus on their academic futures rather than being subjected to inadequate and often inhumane accommodations with inflated prices or having to go to bed hungry to save money to pay rent as is happening under the current ANC and NSFAS regime.
As our President mentioned, ActionSA aims to provide universal access to fee-free tertiary education to all students. But we have to be realistic about the current South-African economic climate in which, in the short term, a free education policy will not be feasible and sustainable.
However, through our policy on Economic Prosperity we will grow the economy and expand the tax base, providing for greater resources. And through our Inclusive Economic Empower model, which includes the establishment of an Opportunity Fund, we will provide financial support to students who are currently excluded from funding opportunities.
We will achieve this in the following ways:
Firstly, through the Opportunity Fund, we will ensure fee-free education for all 1st and 2nd generation students with a household income of below R500 000 per annum. This is a necessary step towards inclusive empowerment by breaking the cycle of poverty and unemployment in communities that have generally been exclude from further education opportunities. Education remains the best way out of poverty.
The ground-breaking Opportunity Fund will supplement the current allocation afforded to higher education, while allowing us to increase the level of support. 10% of the funds within the Opportunity Fund will be dedicated to this objective.
Secondly, to expand access to those who come from households who earn above this threshold, we will use the Opportunity Fund to implement an aid scheme based on government backed loans for all academically qualifying students who cannot afford to student.
Following the completion of their studies, these loans will only become payable after two years of being in gainful employment, allowing recent graduates to find their feet without the burden of debt.
Debt repayment will be administered via SARS and repayments will be used to restore the Opportunity Fund.
To incentivise the studying of degrees in critical fields relevant to our economic needs, we will discount the loans of students studying these courses. We will also combine this with a comprehensive review of all degree programs to ensure they are teaching relevant academic and practical knowledge to equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to grow our economy.
This interim policy will run for a period of five years to allow the economy to grow and our tax base to expand. After a five year period, we will review the policy with the aim of working towards universal fee-free education.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate that education is truly the golden key to unlock the doors of economic opportunity and prosperity for the future.
We believe that with through the Opportunity fund, alongside the aggressive reprioritisation of wasteful government expenditure – like VIP protection and bailouts of failed SOEs – we can achieve fee-free education for all.
This simply requires political will and the desire to take action to fix this problem, because only Action will fix South-Africa
I thank you.
Living Expenses and Other Supporting Costs – Presented by Sesona Xela
Living allowances for students in institutions of higher education are indispensable in fostering their well-being and academic achievements.
These financial provisions are designed to help students afford the various expenses associated with their studies, such as meal allowances, transportation, and academic materials.
By disbursing living allowances, academic institutions and governmental bodies can address the challenges students face in balancing their academic responsibilities with socio-economic constraints.
The provision of student living allowances is crucial in ensuring equal access to, and success in, higher education, regardless of a student’s economic background.
By easing financial anxieties, these allowances allow students to focus on their studies without worrying about how to pay for their basic needs.
ActionSA’s student funding policy, with particular attention to the living allowance component, will focus on ensuring that all eligible students receive financial support aimed at alleviating the strain of basic living expenses.
These will include:
- – Meal Support: Allocating funds for meals to ensure that students have access to food while on campus.
- – Transportation Assistance: Providing subsidies to help students cover the costs associated with their commute to and from campus.
- – Data Coverage: Offering financial support to cover data-related expenses for accessing online educational resources and communication platforms.
- – Other Essential Necessities: Providing assistance for indispensable living expenses, including personal hygiene products, especially female hygiene products such as sanitary towels, laundry services, and other household necessities. Furthermore, tertiary institutions will be responsible for supplying students with toiletries.
- – Technology Allowance: Allocating funds for the purchase or maintenance of technological devices, such as laptops and tablets, essential for online learning, research, and other academic activities.
A critical aspect of enhancing the efficacy of student living allowances is the pressing need for reforms in the administration and distribution of these funds.
The common issue of considerable disbursement delays, which can span from weeks to months, significantly hinders students. Such postponements not only undermine the financial stability of the students but also compromise their ability to meet essential living and academic requirements in a timely fashion.
It is vital to address and correct these administrative inefficiencies to ensure that students receive the necessary support promptly and consistently, thereby alleviating financial burdens and contributing to academic success.
ActionSA advocates for the reform of administrative processes within the financial aid scheme to eliminate existing inefficiencies. Our proposition is to eliminate unnecessary intermediaries that cause delays and reduce accountability in the distribution of funds.
By refining administrative procedures, our aim is to improve transparency in the allocation of financial aid, ensuring that resources are distributed efficiently and effectively to support the needs of students. This initiative emphasises accountability, efficiency, and transparency, with the goal of enhancing the accessibility and timeliness of financial aid for students who are entitled to these allowances.
In conclusion, ActionSA is committed to a student funding policy that not only recognises the essential role of living allowances in higher education but also actively works to enhance their delivery and impact.
By addressing current administrative shortcomings and streamlining the distribution process, we aim to establish a more efficient and transparent system. ActionSA’s dedication to this cause is unwavering, and we will continue to advocate for policies that support our students’ success and well-being.
Accommodation – Presented by Katlego Mphalele
Access to quality, affordable accommodation for students in South Africa remains a distant dream, similar to a fairy-tale, rather than a reality.
Research has painted a stark picture, revealing a significant supply gap of approximately 511,600 beds within tertiary education institutions across the country. And with enrolments increasing each year, the demand gap is bound to increase. And what this means is that tertiary enrolment rates are growing much faster than the institutions can meet the demand for on-campus student accommodation.
Our students continue to encounter different accommodation issues that significantly impact their academic pursuits and overall well-being. Therefore, it important to identify and analyse these key issues, develop targeted interventions and policies that effectively address their housing needs.
Allow me to highlight the three critical areas of concern that we have identified and also outline our policy offering thereof.
Firstly, the exorbitant cost of accommodation is a burden to students. Many find themselves paying large sums for substandard living conditions, and this is an injustice that cannot be overlooked.
- – As ActionSA, we establish public-private partnerships between government entities, tertiary institutions and private developers to finance, construct, and manage student accommodation projects.
- – We will identify, and release abandoned and hi-jacked buildings near educational institutions to the private sector for the development of affordable student housing. This is currently under implementation in the city of Tshwane, through the motion which was passed in council by the ActionSA caucus.
- – We will embrace a hybrid or distance learning options for courses where feasible. This choice will be available to students who wish to explore this alternative and have access to the necessary resources.
- – As the government, our aim is to introduce rent control measures to ensure the affordability of student accommodation.
Secondly, the increase of substandard private off-campus accommodations that fail to provide student-friendly environments poses significant concerns. Students are subjected to unhygienic, unsafe, and overcrowded living conditions, which ultimately affects their academic performance and jeopardizes their safety.
- – As ActionSA, we will establish an independent accreditation committee tasked with overseeing off-campus student accommodation.
- – This committee, comprising of various stakeholders (NSFAS representative, SRC, Residence Director, Head of Security, Health & Wellness representative just to name a few), will ensure that accommodation meets standardized criteria, promoting the well-being and security of our students.
- – This independent accreditation committee will be rolled out in every institution of higher learning across the country.
Lastly, the limited access to on-campus residences amplifies the housing crisis, particularly in rural areas and townships.
- – Through the Opportunity Fund, ActionSA will be investing in the establishment of new universities, technical colleges, and institutions focusing on teaching, nursing, agricultural, and policing training.
- – Equally, under an ActionSA-led government, we will ensure that additional on-campus residences are built through public-private partnerships.
ActionSA’s Plans to Reform our Higher Education System
Speech by Dr. Tutu Felani, ActionSA Team Fix South Africa Member for Higher Education
Fellow South Africans
ActionSA higher education policy initiatives are aimed at fixing our societal problems such as inequality, unemployment, and a poorly performing economy, just to mention a few.
ActionSA is of the view that institutions of higher education such as universities and TVET colleges should play a pivotal role in the development of skilled people who will contribute towards the economic empowerment of black, coloured, Indian and Asian South Africans, who because of the legacy of Apartheid remain disadvantaged.
In line with its policy of Inclusive Economic Development, which includes the establishment of an Opportunity Fund, ActionSA will after a period of five years conduct a review of the curriculum of institutions of higher learning such that education that is offered at our institutions of learning is relevant to the demands for economic growth of the country and the world economy.
A review of the curriculum will entail the continuous repositioning of Artificial Intelligence as an essential aspect in the historical mission of tertiary institutions which is teaching, research and community service.
ActionSA will, when it takes over government, will improve the governance of institutions of higher education by firstly doing away with the political interference in the governance of especially universities and increase the capacity of managers to manage complex tertiary institutions within the broader context of world-wide technological advancement.
ActionSA is of the considered view that whilst it may be necessary to put universities under administration, this should be done with outmost caution and a university should not be placed under administration for a period in excess of 12 months.
ActionSA will revise the current legislation that empowers the Minister to put universities under administration such that such a move is done only when the governance at universities has collapsed and that the university management and council does not have a realistic strategic plan to improve the governance and management of the university.
The revised legislation will require the Minister to consult with a publicly appointed panel of experts before putting a university under administration and that an appointed Administrators should on a three-month basis account to both the Minister and an independently appointed panel of experts.
As part of the improvement of preserving the autonomy of the universities, ActionSA will take steps to ensure that politicians do not interfere with the day-to-day management of the operations especially in tenders aimed at the procurement of goods and services. Universities will constitute independent selected boards which will be made of the university community, relevant civil society entities. Such a board will provide oversight on the procurement processes of the university.
ActionSA will give special attention to criminality at universities and colleges. All acts of criminality such as theft, corruption, and violence against students and staff will be investigated by a specialized crime units and specialized courts will be established to quickly dispense justice in matters that affect universities and colleges.
The admission for study at universities by politicians and the award of qualifications to politicians by universities should be made public and the relevant legislative assembly should be informed on such processes. The rationale for this is to eliminate the culture of politicians believing that by virtue of the positions they hold then they are entitled to be awarded degrees by universities in some cases even when they have not passes matric.
ActionSA will restructure the implementation of the existing national student fund model such that all students who need financial assistance to access tertiary education are able to receive the necessary funding.
ActionSA in its quest to develop realistic policy alternatives in the funding of tertiary education, it recognizes that South Africa as a developing nation is not yet in position to provide free education for all students at tertiary institutions and given this socio-economic reality.
ActionSA thus proposes an education funding model which will provide fee-free education to all 1st and 2nd generation students with a household income of below R500 000 per annum.
For those who come from households who earn above this threshold, we will use the Opportunity Fund to implement an aid scheme based on government backed loans for all academically qualifying students who cannot afford to student.
Graduates will not be required to repay their student debt for a grace period after completing their studies, and will only have to do so after two years in gainful employment.
Moreover, where possible and feasible, we will aim to write off any student debt which a student has accrued as a result of funding should after a period of ten years. We do not want to create a society of indebtedness.
ActionSA recognizes the pressing challenge of student accommodation which has resulted in many students not unable to live in student accommodation which is conducive to studying. ActionSA will immediately take several concrete steps aimed at resolving the accommodation crisis at our universities and colleges. These steps which will be elaborated upon by one of our of our speakers will entails, among other things strong collaboration between the private sector and government.
In line with its policy of expanding access to higher education, ActionSA will establish teaching colleges, nursing colleges to relive the pressure on current institutions of higher education.
ActionSA will expand the online delivery of tertiary education in line with international best practice to ensure that South Africa make it possible for the majority of its people to access tertiary education.
Under the ActionSA government, universities in South Africa will reclaim their glory and increase their standing in the international community of academia.
Thank you.
As ActionSA, we are committed to championing policies that prioritize the well-being and academic success of our students. We will ensure that every student has access to safe, affordable, and conducive living environments.
ActionSA’s Higher Education Policy and Funding Offer to Students
ActionSA’s higher education funding plan is the most credible of any political party
Speech by Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President
Members of the media,
Actioners,
And most importantly, the young people of our beloved country.
Today, I address you on behalf of ActionSA on a topic that is very dear to me – ensuring that South African youth are empowered, through education, to pursue the life they dream of.
Growing up in the poor area of GaRamotse in Hammanskraal, about 50km north of Pretoria, during the 1960s, it was my grandfather who showed me the importance and power of education as the route to self-reliance.
He saw how tough life was and told me: “God gave us brains to face and beat these hard times”.
Back then, my mom was the only one earning an income for our family. She worked as a domestic worker, living in the backroom of a white family in Johannesburg, while I was raised with the help of my three sisters.
It was my grandfather’s advice that compelled me to get out of poverty and pursue a higher education degree.
I passed my Matric in 1978 and enrolled for a BAdmin Degree at the University of The North in 1979, which is today called the University of Limpopo.
However, my studies were cut short when the apartheid government suddenly shut down the university during the national state of emergency during my second year of studies in 1980.
Still, I never stopped believing in the power of education. I always told my kids to look for chances to learn and study, and now I help support scholarship programs for students across South Africa.
I believe that access to quality education should not be a luxury accessible only by the few, but a tool available to the masses to provide a pathway out of the cycle of poverty and unemployment that entraps so many South Africans.
Education is the key to upward mobility and overcoming the legacy of apartheid where access to quality education was a function of the colour of our skin.
Apartheid may have fallen, but the barriers to higher education have not. It is a great injustice that 30 years after the end of apartheid, millions of South Africans face insurmountable challenges to pursuing post-matric studies.
Fellow South Africans,
Today, ActionSA wants to table our plans to right this wrong.
Today, ActionSA wants to share our vision of expanding higher education opportunities to as many people as possible in South Africa.
Quality education has been a core value of ActionSA from the start. We maintain that quality education is one of the best tools for people to empower themselves, and improve not only their lives, but the lives of their families.
That is why we have committed that under an ActionSA government, no academically qualifying student will be excluded from further education because they lack the funds to study.
In the same way that we believe that schools in township communities should be on the same standard as those found in suburban areas, we believe that everyone in the country should have the opportunity to higher education as long as they meet the academic requirements to do so.
Education and the possibility for upward mobility should not be a luxury, it should be a basic right.
But, the ruling party has failed to open the doors of learning by failing to dismantle the barriers to access for many South Africans.
Fellow South Africans,
There is no doubt that many of South Africa’s higher education centres are in crisis, while too many students are prohibited from accessing tertiary education due to financial exclusion.
Despite repeated promises and investigations into higher education funding, South Africa has made little progress in expanding access to higher education.
Seven years after the release of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Feasibility of making High Education and Training Fee-free in South Africa, issues regarding funding for the so-called “missing middle” of students exist.
These are students who do not qualify for funding under NSFAS, but also do not qualify for commercial lending alternatives. They are left without an option, and without the hope of a better future.
It is simply unacceptable that, 30 years after democracy, students are excluded from obtaining a tertiary education because they lack the funds. Not while our government wastes billions on propping up failing SOEs and allows limited public funds to be stolen by self-interested cadres.
Many of matriculants who have joined us today face an uncertain future, not sure if they would be able to attain tertiary education opportunities or skills to enter the workplace.
Meanwhile, institutions such as NSFAS have been plagued with corruption allegations as thousands of students go homeless or without food.
Tertiary institutions across the country suffer from maladministration and our very own ministers face allegations of buying their degrees, thereby reducing the credibility of South African qualifications.
And, our centres of higher learning fail to address the critical skills shortage currently facing South Africa, from software developers, engineers, and scientists.
For us to fix South Africa, and build a more prosperous nation, we urgently need to address the funding crisis alongside reforms to our institutions of learning.
Fellow South Africans and particularly the youth of South Africa,
Today I want to commit to you that an ActionSA government will significantly expand and improve access to a variety of post-matric opportunities, whether through traditional academic routes in universities, or via colleges dedicated to technical skills and vocational training.
Yesterday, student leaders from across South Africa gathered in Johannesburg to further develop ActionSA’s plan to address the issue of financial exclusion from further education.
Their deliberations were borne of a resolution at our inaugural policy conference in September last year where we resolved that that ActionSA would develop a proposal around student funding and accommodation.
Today I want to give you a glimpse of this plan, that will detail our approach to expanding access to further education not only by removing financial barriers, but through a comprehensive plan to address the institutional failures of the higher education system.
This includes:
I have never believed in making promises I cannot keep, so I want to be honest that this will not happen overnight. ActionSA believes that government has a responsibility to be transparent about what is and is not possible.
I say this because while it is our dream that one day we can introduce fee-free education for all students, we must accept the reality we face as a country that suffers from low economic growth, a declining tax base and sustained unemployment of over 40%.
While we work towards growing our economy through our plan for Economic Prosperity, we will achieve our goal of ensuring that no academically qualify student will be excluded from further education through aggressive reprioritisation of the national budget away from wasteful expenditure like SOE bailouts and VIP security.
Combined with reforms to NSFAS alongside the introduction of our Opportunity Fund, we can remove barriers to funding access for all South Africans.
This, my fellow South Africans, is entirely possible as long as we have the political will to make it happen. The political will to take action!
Let me say this again – under an ActionSA government, no academically qualifying student will be excluded from further education because they lack the funds to study.
We will ensure that student funding will be a top priority, ahead of any government expense.
And with the establishment of ActionSA’s one of the kind Opportunity Fund, we will ensure that public funds that currently go to enriching entrepreneurs to empowering the young people of South Africa.
The Opportunity Fund will radically expand access to tertiary education by not only funding students, but also building new higher education facilities.
Fellow South Africans,
When ActionSA says quality education is one of our core values, we do not simply want to talk the talk.
But, through our plans, we want to show that we put words to action. Because, only ACTION will fix South Africa.
Today we want to demonstrate that we have spent countless hours deliberating on a credible approach that will address the crisis.
We believe the proposals we are tabling today can once and for all ensure that doors of higher education are open.
I thank you.
ActionSA Presents First Credible Pathway Towards Fixing Our Higher Education System with Expanded Access and Improved Quality
Tuition – Presented by Reuben Coetzer
There is a well-known Zulu saying: ‘Umgagijimi uma indlu yakho ivuliwe Umlilo’, which means that you do not run away when your house is on fire.
South-Africans it is clear that our figurative house of Tertiary education is not just on fire, it has burned to the ground.
As ActionSA we do not shy away from a challenge and this morning we will through practical, sustainable solutions outline how we will, brick by brick, rebuild the state of South-Africa’s tertiary education system, and expand access to funding so that no academically qualifying student is financially excluded.
In the first instance, it is important to understand that this policy won’t deliver change overnight. At ActionSA we believe in being honest and not over promising. But, we believe that change can start immediately.
To achieve universal access to higher education funding, an ActionSA government will establish a framework to ensure a sustainable and inclusive funding model for all South African students. This will serve as a foundation for ensuring future economic growth and employment, and provide young people with a path to upward mobility.
This morning I would like to focus on the issue of tuition fees, and ActionSA’s approach to funding. My fellow students will make some additional remarks regarding accommodation and living expenses to ensure that students are supported holistically.
A well-rounded student should be able to focus on their academic futures rather than being subjected to inadequate and often inhumane accommodations with inflated prices or having to go to bed hungry to save money to pay rent as is happening under the current ANC and NSFAS regime.
As our President mentioned, ActionSA aims to provide universal access to fee-free tertiary education to all students. But we have to be realistic about the current South-African economic climate in which, in the short term, a free education policy will not be feasible and sustainable.
However, through our policy on Economic Prosperity we will grow the economy and expand the tax base, providing for greater resources. And through our Inclusive Economic Empower model, which includes the establishment of an Opportunity Fund, we will provide financial support to students who are currently excluded from funding opportunities.
We will achieve this in the following ways:
Firstly, through the Opportunity Fund, we will ensure fee-free education for all 1st and 2nd generation students with a household income of below R500 000 per annum. This is a necessary step towards inclusive empowerment by breaking the cycle of poverty and unemployment in communities that have generally been exclude from further education opportunities. Education remains the best way out of poverty.
The ground-breaking Opportunity Fund will supplement the current allocation afforded to higher education, while allowing us to increase the level of support. 10% of the funds within the Opportunity Fund will be dedicated to this objective.
Secondly, to expand access to those who come from households who earn above this threshold, we will use the Opportunity Fund to implement an aid scheme based on government backed loans for all academically qualifying students who cannot afford to student.
Following the completion of their studies, these loans will only become payable after two years of being in gainful employment, allowing recent graduates to find their feet without the burden of debt.
Debt repayment will be administered via SARS and repayments will be used to restore the Opportunity Fund.
To incentivise the studying of degrees in critical fields relevant to our economic needs, we will discount the loans of students studying these courses. We will also combine this with a comprehensive review of all degree programs to ensure they are teaching relevant academic and practical knowledge to equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to grow our economy.
This interim policy will run for a period of five years to allow the economy to grow and our tax base to expand. After a five year period, we will review the policy with the aim of working towards universal fee-free education.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate that education is truly the golden key to unlock the doors of economic opportunity and prosperity for the future.
We believe that with through the Opportunity fund, alongside the aggressive reprioritisation of wasteful government expenditure – like VIP protection and bailouts of failed SOEs – we can achieve fee-free education for all.
This simply requires political will and the desire to take action to fix this problem, because only Action will fix South-Africa
I thank you.
Living Expenses and Other Supporting Costs – Presented by Sesona Xela
Living allowances for students in institutions of higher education are indispensable in fostering their well-being and academic achievements.
These financial provisions are designed to help students afford the various expenses associated with their studies, such as meal allowances, transportation, and academic materials.
By disbursing living allowances, academic institutions and governmental bodies can address the challenges students face in balancing their academic responsibilities with socio-economic constraints.
The provision of student living allowances is crucial in ensuring equal access to, and success in, higher education, regardless of a student’s economic background.
By easing financial anxieties, these allowances allow students to focus on their studies without worrying about how to pay for their basic needs.
ActionSA’s student funding policy, with particular attention to the living allowance component, will focus on ensuring that all eligible students receive financial support aimed at alleviating the strain of basic living expenses.
These will include:
A critical aspect of enhancing the efficacy of student living allowances is the pressing need for reforms in the administration and distribution of these funds.
The common issue of considerable disbursement delays, which can span from weeks to months, significantly hinders students. Such postponements not only undermine the financial stability of the students but also compromise their ability to meet essential living and academic requirements in a timely fashion.
It is vital to address and correct these administrative inefficiencies to ensure that students receive the necessary support promptly and consistently, thereby alleviating financial burdens and contributing to academic success.
ActionSA advocates for the reform of administrative processes within the financial aid scheme to eliminate existing inefficiencies. Our proposition is to eliminate unnecessary intermediaries that cause delays and reduce accountability in the distribution of funds.
By refining administrative procedures, our aim is to improve transparency in the allocation of financial aid, ensuring that resources are distributed efficiently and effectively to support the needs of students. This initiative emphasises accountability, efficiency, and transparency, with the goal of enhancing the accessibility and timeliness of financial aid for students who are entitled to these allowances.
In conclusion, ActionSA is committed to a student funding policy that not only recognises the essential role of living allowances in higher education but also actively works to enhance their delivery and impact.
By addressing current administrative shortcomings and streamlining the distribution process, we aim to establish a more efficient and transparent system. ActionSA’s dedication to this cause is unwavering, and we will continue to advocate for policies that support our students’ success and well-being.
Accommodation – Presented by Katlego Mphalele
Access to quality, affordable accommodation for students in South Africa remains a distant dream, similar to a fairy-tale, rather than a reality.
Research has painted a stark picture, revealing a significant supply gap of approximately 511,600 beds within tertiary education institutions across the country. And with enrolments increasing each year, the demand gap is bound to increase. And what this means is that tertiary enrolment rates are growing much faster than the institutions can meet the demand for on-campus student accommodation.
Our students continue to encounter different accommodation issues that significantly impact their academic pursuits and overall well-being. Therefore, it important to identify and analyse these key issues, develop targeted interventions and policies that effectively address their housing needs.
Allow me to highlight the three critical areas of concern that we have identified and also outline our policy offering thereof.
Firstly, the exorbitant cost of accommodation is a burden to students. Many find themselves paying large sums for substandard living conditions, and this is an injustice that cannot be overlooked.
Secondly, the increase of substandard private off-campus accommodations that fail to provide student-friendly environments poses significant concerns. Students are subjected to unhygienic, unsafe, and overcrowded living conditions, which ultimately affects their academic performance and jeopardizes their safety.
Lastly, the limited access to on-campus residences amplifies the housing crisis, particularly in rural areas and townships.
ActionSA’s Plans to Reform our Higher Education System
Speech by Dr. Tutu Felani, ActionSA Team Fix South Africa Member for Higher Education
Fellow South Africans
ActionSA higher education policy initiatives are aimed at fixing our societal problems such as inequality, unemployment, and a poorly performing economy, just to mention a few.
ActionSA is of the view that institutions of higher education such as universities and TVET colleges should play a pivotal role in the development of skilled people who will contribute towards the economic empowerment of black, coloured, Indian and Asian South Africans, who because of the legacy of Apartheid remain disadvantaged.
In line with its policy of Inclusive Economic Development, which includes the establishment of an Opportunity Fund, ActionSA will after a period of five years conduct a review of the curriculum of institutions of higher learning such that education that is offered at our institutions of learning is relevant to the demands for economic growth of the country and the world economy.
A review of the curriculum will entail the continuous repositioning of Artificial Intelligence as an essential aspect in the historical mission of tertiary institutions which is teaching, research and community service.
ActionSA will, when it takes over government, will improve the governance of institutions of higher education by firstly doing away with the political interference in the governance of especially universities and increase the capacity of managers to manage complex tertiary institutions within the broader context of world-wide technological advancement.
ActionSA is of the considered view that whilst it may be necessary to put universities under administration, this should be done with outmost caution and a university should not be placed under administration for a period in excess of 12 months.
ActionSA will revise the current legislation that empowers the Minister to put universities under administration such that such a move is done only when the governance at universities has collapsed and that the university management and council does not have a realistic strategic plan to improve the governance and management of the university.
The revised legislation will require the Minister to consult with a publicly appointed panel of experts before putting a university under administration and that an appointed Administrators should on a three-month basis account to both the Minister and an independently appointed panel of experts.
As part of the improvement of preserving the autonomy of the universities, ActionSA will take steps to ensure that politicians do not interfere with the day-to-day management of the operations especially in tenders aimed at the procurement of goods and services. Universities will constitute independent selected boards which will be made of the university community, relevant civil society entities. Such a board will provide oversight on the procurement processes of the university.
ActionSA will give special attention to criminality at universities and colleges. All acts of criminality such as theft, corruption, and violence against students and staff will be investigated by a specialized crime units and specialized courts will be established to quickly dispense justice in matters that affect universities and colleges.
The admission for study at universities by politicians and the award of qualifications to politicians by universities should be made public and the relevant legislative assembly should be informed on such processes. The rationale for this is to eliminate the culture of politicians believing that by virtue of the positions they hold then they are entitled to be awarded degrees by universities in some cases even when they have not passes matric.
ActionSA will restructure the implementation of the existing national student fund model such that all students who need financial assistance to access tertiary education are able to receive the necessary funding.
ActionSA in its quest to develop realistic policy alternatives in the funding of tertiary education, it recognizes that South Africa as a developing nation is not yet in position to provide free education for all students at tertiary institutions and given this socio-economic reality.
ActionSA thus proposes an education funding model which will provide fee-free education to all 1st and 2nd generation students with a household income of below R500 000 per annum.
For those who come from households who earn above this threshold, we will use the Opportunity Fund to implement an aid scheme based on government backed loans for all academically qualifying students who cannot afford to student.
Graduates will not be required to repay their student debt for a grace period after completing their studies, and will only have to do so after two years in gainful employment.
Moreover, where possible and feasible, we will aim to write off any student debt which a student has accrued as a result of funding should after a period of ten years. We do not want to create a society of indebtedness.
ActionSA recognizes the pressing challenge of student accommodation which has resulted in many students not unable to live in student accommodation which is conducive to studying. ActionSA will immediately take several concrete steps aimed at resolving the accommodation crisis at our universities and colleges. These steps which will be elaborated upon by one of our of our speakers will entails, among other things strong collaboration between the private sector and government.
In line with its policy of expanding access to higher education, ActionSA will establish teaching colleges, nursing colleges to relive the pressure on current institutions of higher education.
ActionSA will expand the online delivery of tertiary education in line with international best practice to ensure that South Africa make it possible for the majority of its people to access tertiary education.
Under the ActionSA government, universities in South Africa will reclaim their glory and increase their standing in the international community of academia.
Thank you.
As ActionSA, we are committed to championing policies that prioritize the well-being and academic success of our students. We will ensure that every student has access to safe, affordable, and conducive living environments.