While SA’s universities were in a real crises across the country, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande met with stakeholders at the University of Zululand in an attempt to find a solution to the labour dispute at the university.
Meanwhile the country’s Sunday Times newspaper reports the lack of progress by the government and tertiary institutions in resolving the #FeesMustFall crisis means that next year’s intake of students at universities may be cancelled. Experts say that if the current academic year is suspended at universities, the consequences will be “dire”.
But Nzimande rather sat down with the Chairperson of the University of Zululand, CV Gamede and National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) President, Mzwandile Makwayiba in a bid to try and assist the parties to find each other and end a strike.
Government PR gurus said “the Minister felt that he should play some role in trying to assist the parties to find each other even if he is not allowed to do so by law,” the department said in a statement.
The real reality is that university students all over the country who cannot complete their degrees this year may have to drop out, due to not being able to afford extending their studies into 2017.
MuBroadband.co.za reports many foreign students rely on visas to study in the country – which may expire before their degrees are completed.
If current university students have to add a year to their studies, their residences and similar accommodation will remain occupied in 2017 – meaning no room for new students. That’s game over for the 2016 Matrics who wants to go to university next year.
There are 220,000 matriculants due to enter higher education next year.
