Parly committee raises concerns over student safety, inadequate facilities after oversight visits to 11 tertiary institutions

CAPE TOWN - Parliament’s higher education portfolio committee has submitted an 88-page assessment report for consideration by the National Assembly a full year after it went on oversight visits to eleven tertiary institutions.

As institutions prepare for the 2024 academic year, the committee’s visits to universities in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga were intended to assess the state of readiness for the 2023 academic year. 

According to their findings, almost all institutions visited highlighted the impact of shortcomings by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) on their operations. 

While the committee has lauded some institutions for the manner in which their infrastructure is being maintained, in other instances MPs said they were appalled at the state of student residences and lecture facilities. 

The committee has recommended that the residences at the Thekwini TVET College be closed until they can be completely renovated. It also found a swimming pool in disuse because it had fallen into disrepair. 

At the Limpopo Community Education and Training College, MPs found no electricity and inadequate ventilation in classrooms which they found not to be conducive to learning. 

At the University of Zululand, the institution said it had to contend with regular water shortages and cuts, and the safety of students at off-campus residences was also highlighted as concerning. 

At the Mangosuthu University of Technology, the cafeteria had been closed down because it failed to meet health standards. 

In most instances, student representatives and institutions bemoaned delays by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme in finalising a list of qualifying students, which held up the registration of students. 

Overall, the committee raised concern about staff shortages, student safety and inadequate facilities at most of the institutions they visited.