Higher Edu Dept rejects claims of placement crisis at institutions of higher learning
Deputy Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela dismissed claims of a crisis in the sector, saying such statements exaggerate the current challenges.
Picture: Pixabay
JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Higher Education has rejected claims of a placement crisis at the country's universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
On Wednesday, Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) administrator Freeman Nomvalo, university Vice-Chancellors and TVET principals kicked off a two-day stakeholder meeting in Benoni, to assess the state of readiness for the 2025 academic year.
The meeting addressed long-standing issues such as funding delays, accommodation shortages, and administrative challenges, some of which have sparked student protests in recent years.
The department insists it’s better prepared this year, pointing to the establishment of a war room designed to monitor and resolve any issues in real time.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela dismissed claims of a crisis in the sector, saying such statements exaggerate the current challenges.
“But I think we should be careful that when we are confronted with new problems, in this case, we actually do not think that the problem is as much a crisis as it is being projected.”
Manamela admitted that more effort is needed to place all qualifying students but stressed that it will be a gradual process.