THERE is a shortage of 195,000 beds at university residences around the country, but with the cost of providing a single bed estimated at R240,000, it will cost R147-billion to provide accommodation to all eligible students.
These are some of the findings of a report released by the Department of Higher Education and Training on the provision of student housing at universities.
Other shocking findings contained in the report are:
According to the report, released by Minister Blade Nzimande yesterday, the average cost to build a single bed for a student at a university - including kitchen, ablution and lounge facilities - was estimated at R240,000.
Nzimande said this figure was based on provision of accommodation for 80% of full-time contact on campuses where accommodation off-campus is either not suitable or not available.
"The cost of overcoming this shortage is R147.37- billion including escalation for building and increased intake growing at an average of 2% per annum," he said.
Of the 535,000 students enrolled at residential universities, only 107,000 (20%) could be accommodated at these institutions.
Nzimande said he was "deeply concerned" by the finding that only 41% of campuses have dining halls. Of the campuses with dining halls, 40% are self-catering. This meant that students often went for days without meals at a number of residences.
"Students need to have access to, and funding for, proper meals. Hunger and poor nutrition are believed to affect attendance, concentration levels during lectures and academic levels which in turn leads to high drop-out rates ..."
When a team of researchers visited the University of Venda, they found students staying at a private residence doing their laundry, cooking and even bathing in one filthy bathroom.
Nzimande said he was also shocked to learn that only 5.3% of first-year students are accommodated in university residences.
'Student housing at varsities is shocking'
THERE is a shortage of 195,000 beds at university residences around the country, but with the cost of providing a single bed estimated at R240,000, it will cost R147-billion to provide accommodation to all eligible students.
These are some of the findings of a report released by the Department of Higher Education and Training on the provision of student housing at universities.
Other shocking findings contained in the report are:
There is a severe shortage of suitable accommodation for students with disabilities.
According to the report, released by Minister Blade Nzimande yesterday, the average cost to build a single bed for a student at a university - including kitchen, ablution and lounge facilities - was estimated at R240,000.
Nzimande said this figure was based on provision of accommodation for 80% of full-time contact on campuses where accommodation off-campus is either not suitable or not available.
"The cost of overcoming this shortage is R147.37- billion including escalation for building and increased intake growing at an average of 2% per annum," he said.
Of the 535,000 students enrolled at residential universities, only 107,000 (20%) could be accommodated at these institutions.
Nzimande said he was "deeply concerned" by the finding that only 41% of campuses have dining halls. Of the campuses with dining halls, 40% are self-catering. This meant that students often went for days without meals at a number of residences.
"Students need to have access to, and funding for, proper meals. Hunger and poor nutrition are believed to affect attendance, concentration levels during lectures and academic levels which in turn leads to high drop-out rates ..."
When a team of researchers visited the University of Venda, they found students staying at a private residence doing their laundry, cooking and even bathing in one filthy bathroom.
Nzimande said he was also shocked to learn that only 5.3% of first-year students are accommodated in university residences.