SACP welcomes the no fee increase announced by government for students from poor and working class households who cannot afford fees and fee increases
19 September 2016
The South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomes the announcement made by the Department of Higher Education and Training on Monday, 19 September, that all students in public colleges and universities qualifying for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) as well as students falling in the category of the so-called ‘missing middle’, referring to students whose households earn above the NSFAS threshold but are unable to support their access to higher education, will experience no fee increase in 2017. Accordingly, in 2016/17 academic year, the state will, as it happened in 2015/16, pay for the fee adjustment.
The SACP also welcomes the reaffirmation by the department that government remains firmly committed to the progressive realisation of free post-school education for the poor and working class in line with our country’s constitution, and to assist middle class families who are unable to afford student fees.
In fact, this is not only in line with the resolution of the ANC’s 52nd National Conference held in 2007 in Polokwane but beyond that by catering for the lower strata of the middle class who cannot afford fees. The SACP is looking forward to the Higher Education and Training Commission, also known as the Fees Commission established by the President accordingly concluding its work on these matters and resolution.
The SACP calls on all colleges and universities to engage in consensus-seeking consultations in exercising the authority conferred to them by law; be it on student fees and related aspects or any other matter concerning their public mandate. Universities and colleges must place the interests of children of the workers and poor at heart as well as democratic non-racial and non-sexist transformation.
Statement issued by the SACP , 19 September 2016
