Five months into the year, some National Student Financial Aid Scheme-funded students have yet to receive their money. They are going hungry, but the funding group says those who have been registered at their institutions have, and continue to be, funded.
Student union to meet with Higher Education Minister soon Updated
Nomfundo Ngcobo
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The South African Union of Students is expected to meet with the Higher Education minister next week to discuss challenges faced by students in KZN.
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The union conducted an oversight visit to assess some of the problems.
SAUS Secretary Lwandile Mtsolo says they interacted with students from the Durban University of Technology, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Mangosuthu University of Technology.
He says there are some issues that are pending that we found that some of these universities are not really prepared to implement. Our first stop was at the Mangosuthu University of Technology, it came as a shock to us to find out that the university has not started classes. There is total disarray in terms of management in the institution.
The continued fight for student financial emancipation led to a nationwide shutdown of tertiary institutions on Monday, but only some Eastern Cape institutions heeded the call. The South African Union of Students (SAUS) recommended a shutdown after it convened a national executive committee meeting at the weekend, which included all student representative councils, to address student financial challenges.
South Africa braces for nationwide university shutdown
By Sakhiseni Nxumalo
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Durban - THE SA Student Union (SAUS) has called for a national shutdown of all 26 institutions of higher learning with immediate effect today (Monday) until the funding, historical debt and other issues are completely dealt with.
SAUS convened an urgent national executive committee meeting, including all Student Representative Councils (SRCs) across the country, preparing for the 2021 academic year and the challenges that have crippled the sector.
The meeting took place at the weekend and they met Higher Education and Training Department and National Student Financial Aid Scheme representatives.
According to student leaders, out of 15 matters submitted to the department, none received a positive response.
Students could decide to shut down the country’s 26 universities if Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande fails to meet their demands.