Even though universities don’t fall under Gauteng’s jurisdiction, the Gauteng government said on Tuesday it supported the students' call for access to quality higher education.
Delivering her mini budget speech for Gauteng, Finance MEC Barbara Creecy said the country’s economic hub would support the students' demand to expand access to quality higher education, especially for students from poor and working class families.
“While the funding of tertiary education is not in our remit, we have in the current financial year set aside R218m for bursaries to assist our youth to pay fees at both the universities and FET colleges,” she said.
“The recent student led #FeesMustFall campaign brought sharply to the fore the on-going socio-economic challenges facing many South Africans,” she said.
“Young people united across gender, class and race, and … followed in the footsteps of the generation of the 1970s and 80s. Theirs too is a just cause.
“We therefore welcome the intervention by President (Jacob) Zuma and the national cabinet to put in place a process to find a lasting solution to the challenges of funding, especially in higher education.
“We also welcome the commitment by the private sector to make a contribution towards the resolution of the issues raised during the campaign.”
Gauteng increased its allocation to its Education Department by R360m to R36 438 652. This increase comprises R200m for the ICT strategy and R160m for payment of municipal services.
Fin24
Source
http://www.fin24.com/Economy/gauteng-sets-r218m-aside-to-help-students-20151117
Gauteng sets R218m aside to help students
Even though universities don’t fall under Gauteng’s jurisdiction, the Gauteng government said on Tuesday it supported the students' call for access to quality higher education.
Delivering her mini budget speech for Gauteng, Finance MEC Barbara Creecy said the country’s economic hub would support the students' demand to expand access to quality higher education, especially for students from poor and working class families.
“While the funding of tertiary education is not in our remit, we have in the current financial year set aside R218m for bursaries to assist our youth to pay fees at both the universities and FET colleges,” she said.
“The recent student led #FeesMustFall campaign brought sharply to the fore the on-going socio-economic challenges facing many South Africans,” she said.
“Young people united across gender, class and race, and … followed in the footsteps of the generation of the 1970s and 80s. Theirs too is a just cause.
“We therefore welcome the intervention by President (Jacob) Zuma and the national cabinet to put in place a process to find a lasting solution to the challenges of funding, especially in higher education.
“We also welcome the commitment by the private sector to make a contribution towards the resolution of the issues raised during the campaign.”
Gauteng increased its allocation to its Education Department by R360m to R36 438 652. This increase comprises R200m for the ICT strategy and R160m for payment of municipal services.
Fin24
Source
http://www.fin24.com/Economy/gauteng-sets-r218m-aside-to-help-students-20151117
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