Eastern Cape Universities have cautiously welcomed the announcement by President Jacob Zuma that free higher education would be extended to the poor and working class.
Rhodes University said Saturday that it noted and welcomed the important announcement made by the President on the funding of higher education and the relief provided to the poor and working-class families.
“This is consistent with our publicly declared position that academically capable young people from poor and working-class backgrounds should be supported by the State and that the funding of higher education be increased,” said Vice Chancellor, Dr. Sizwe Mabizela.
“This move will go a long way towards ensuring access to higher education. We will engage further with the Department in terms of how this bold move will be rolled out,” he said.
Walter Sisulu University said it will be studying the announcement closely to assess the impact it will have on their student body.
WSU spokesperson, Yonela Tukwayo, said about 70% of their student population is funded through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
She also said that about 25% of their debt book relate to students who fall into the so-called missing middle category and with the new proposal, their debt book could be reduced going forward.
Tukwayo said that previously NSFAS covered students who came from households with incomes of less than R122 000 pa, but now the subsidy will extend to households with incomes of R350 000pa.
She said this will mean that a lot more of their students will be covered by the state and will assist the institution in its cash-flow management.
