COSATU supports the Higher Education Amendment Bill
COSATU strongly supports and welcomes Government’s Higher Education Amendment Bill and urges Parliament to pass it as a matter of the highest priority. The federation wants the bill further strengthened though to ensure outsourcing, labour broking etc. are banned at all public universities, colleges etc.
The bill should also ensure that universities funds can only be invested in local companies that create and protect local jobs and only in companies that are not involved with labour broking, outsourcing etc. The universities, colleges should account to Parliament on an annual basis. The criteria for nominations to university councils should be tightened to ensure that candidates with questionable records are not appointed.
We strongly urge Parliament to speedily pass the Higher Education Amendment Bill with the above amendments, as it will further capacitate government to ensure that transformation of higher education is accelerated.
Our support for the Bill is informed by the following key challenges facing the nation:
- The economy needs more skilled graduates.