Value-for-money tertiary education

By Khanyisa Tabata
29 January 2010

Higher Education South Africa says it is in the process of finalising guidelines aimed at assisting institutions make tuition fees affordable while ensuring quality of teaching and learning.

The guidelines also aim to provide student support and other services as well as the financial sustainability of the institutions.

HESA Executive Secretary, Marianne Hattingh is quoted as saying they are committed to affording deserving learners financial support as long as they met their respective tertiary institutions’ entry requirements.

Hatting says they want to strengthen institutional systems for detecting early warning signals on student performance as well as mechanisms for re-directing underperforming students to other areas of study.

HESA has also committed to giving special attention to broadening access for students from Quintile 1 schools, which are located in poor communities in extremely disadvantaged rural areas of the country.

Early this month, the 23 universities in the public higher education system made a commitment to the Ministry of Higher Education and Training that they would facilitate increased access to higher education and ensure that it remains affordable for most.