Day: January 15, 2024

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Professor Blade Nzimande, has revealed that government has set aside a R3.8 billion initial capitalisation fund to support ‘missing middle’ students.

The new Comprehensive Student Funding Model aims to support students including those currently not supported by the National Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) bursary and funding policy.

This category of students is those who come from families who have a total income of more than R350 000, but not more than R600 000 per annum.

Nzimande, who was addressing the media on Sunday, revealed that the funding model is divided into two phases.

Phase one begins this year, 2024/2025, with the State committing the initial capitalisation fund totalling R3.8 billion to support the loan scheme.

This amount comprises R1.5 billion from the National Skills Fund (NSF) and R2.3 billion from Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

‘This amount will fund 47% of the missing middle students, that is, 31 884 of the estimate
d 68 446 missing middle,’ he said at the media briefing held in Pretoria.

‘We have also committed funds to revive NSFAS ICT [information and communications technology] systems, including the loan system.’

On implementing the scheme, he said his department has so far consulted with the National Treasury, university Vice-Chancellors and student leaders.

‘Further workshops will be held with the registrars and student financial officers once NSFAS has obtained Board approval for the funding guidelines.’

Second phase

Meanwhile, the department is working around the clock to implement the second phase of the funding model from next year to 2034.

‘The department will ensure that the seed funding contribution by government is increased to R31.6 billion to R42.1 billion over 10 years. This is approximately R3.1 billion to R4.2 billion annually.”

Criteria and expansion

‘Together with the National Treasury, we will continue to engage with relevant institutions, including public and private financial institutions
to expand the scheme.’

To qualify for the loan, students should meet the following criteria:

Students whose annual household income is between R350 000 to R600 000;

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and public university students;

Undergraduate or postgraduate students;

70% science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes (which may be adjusted to include commercial programmes that are in demand in the labour market or entrepreneurial programmes);

30% Humanities programmes;

Students willing to sign a loan agreement;

Students can apply for the loan in the first, second or third year to continue to be funded through the loan;

Students are expected to get an average of 60% pass rate and the loan will cover tuition, learning material and accommodation;

Students who obtain 70% or above on average and within the prescribed time will get a 50% reduction on loans on request.

Nzimande has described this move as ‘yet another important milestone in the commi
tments of the ANC-led government to advance a better life for all as we celebrate 30 years of freedom’.

The loan scheme will be administered by NSFAS which has the legal mandate to offer student loans as per Section 4 of NSFAS Act 1999.

‘NSFAS represents one of the most progressive and successful efforts by the government to systematically break the legacies of inter-generational social inequality in access post-school education and training.’

Between 2019 and 2022, NSFAS has disbursed R123 billion distributed across 2 918 624 beneficiaries.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that as the nation commemorates 30 years of democracy, South Africa has made strides in ‘advancing access to education’ for previously marginalised groups.

He made this assertion in his weekly newsletter to the nation on Monday.

South Africa will celebrate 30 years of democracy this year as the country’s first democratic election was held in April 1994 – marking an end to the racist apartheid regime.

‘We must consider just how far we have come from an era where the educational prospects of young black men and women were greatly diminished, and where the inferior education they received was deliberately designed to prepare them to be ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water’.

‘Much has changed. From the results of Census 2022, we can glean insight into the gains we have made as a country in advancing access to education, the most critical area of any nation’s development,’ the President said.

Census 2022, according to the Presidency, was the fourth population and housing count i
n post-apartheid South Africa, with the first conducted in 1996, with subsequent censuses being conducted in 2001 and 2011.

Pressing further on the results of Census 2022, the President added that at least three quarters of youth aged between five and 24 are attending school with the ‘percentage of people aged 20 and older who have completed secondary education’ doubling since the first democratic Census in 1996.

‘The first census showed that some 62% of white South Africans had a matric or higher qualification compared to 18% of blacks. Today, 38% of all South Africans have completed secondary education.

‘At the time Census 1996 was conducted, 1.5 million South Africans had post-school qualifications. In 2022, this figure stood at approximately 4.6 million. Much of this progress has been made possible by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, which continues to play an invaluable role in supporting access to higher education,’ President Ramaphosa said.

Expanding access to education

He acknowledged t
hat the education sector is facing challenges ‘as it works to meet the needs of our growing population [and] we are working to overcome them’.

‘However, given our country’s history of marginalisation and exclusion, that we have made such substantial progress in expanding access to education over the past three decades is significant.

‘In South Africa today, basic and higher education is accessible to the children and grandchildren of farmworkers, mineworkers and domestic workers, many of whom were denied such opportunities in the not-too-distant apartheid past. We will continue to build on our gains in our quest to leave no-one behind.’

Matric results

President Ramaphosa highlighted that matric results over the past few years has recorded the strides that young females are now making.

‘In 2022, the matric cohort achieved an 80.1% pass rate, and last year more than a million candidates sat for the exam. More than half of the successful matriculants were female. There are also more women studying at tertia
ry institutions in South Africa, including in the once male-dominated science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

‘While the task of ensuring that our economy grows at a scale and pace to absorb graduates and those seeking formal employment is a daunting one, let us not lose sight of how far we have come in this critical developmental indicator.

‘We wish the matriculants eagerly awaiting their results later this week good luck. We have no doubt they will make us proud, making it an auspicious start to an auspicious year,’ President Ramaphosa concluded.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Professor Blade Nzimande, has announced the appointment of Professor Lourens Van Staden as acting Chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) with immediate effect.

This after NSFAS Board Chairperson, Ernest Khosa, voluntarily tabled a notice of 30 days leave of absence for the organisation to deal with allegations against him as contained in the recordings distributed by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).

The OUTA is accusing both Khosa and the Minister of defrauding the scheme through kickbacks from service providers.

Van Staden is the former Vice Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

‘I have already had a briefing session with him emphasising the importance of NSFAS to prioritise readiness for the beginning of the 2024 academic year. The acting Chairperson will also prioritise the employment of a new CEO and fully implement the Werksmans report that was commissioned by NSFAS,’ Nzimande said on Sunday.

L
ast year, the NSFAS Board appointed law firm Werksmans Attorneys and advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi to probe claims of irregularities involving a tender awarded to four firms to pay allowances to students.

The investigation follows allegations against the now-axed NSFAS CEO, Andile Nongogo, relating to his conflict of interest in the appointment of service providers.

According to the findings, Nongogo actively participated in the presentation to the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) of proposals by service providers.

The probe also found he violated the public procurement processes of NSFAS, which he was employed to safeguard and uphold and has since been fired.

Labour court decision and report

In addition, last week, the Board of the NSFAS welcomed the Labour Court’s decision to declare the termination of the contract of employment of Nongogo as lawful and valid.

‘The NSFAS Board further welcomes the decision by the Court to dismiss with costs the application by Mr Nongogo to strike out certain paragraphs a
s contained in the Werksmans Attorney’s report, which implicates him of irregular conduct concerning the appointment of direct payment service providers.

‘The decision by the court vindicates the NSFAS Board in terminating Mr Nongogo’s contract of employment following his irregular involvement in the appointment of the direct payment service providers.’

The financial aid scheme said it views the report as a necessary and important measure to push ‘NSFAS to a much more elevated level of consciousness to fight corruption and the capture of NSFAS by some unscrupulous people masquerading as business people’.

In addition, NSFAS believes that the document also serves as a measure for NSFAS to further strengthen its own internal supply chain management systems and controls.

‘Following this groundbreaking judgement, NSFAS will vigorously continue with its legal process towards the termination of contracts of direct payment service providers.’

The implicated firms include Tenet Technologies, Coinvest, eZaga Holdi
ngs and Norraco Corporation.

‘The termination of the direct payment service providers will be handled with due care not to disrupt the disbursement of the allowances to students in the 2024 academic year.

‘NSFAS will now focus all its efforts towards its immediate task of preparation for the seamless beginning of the 2024 academic year.’

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Gauteng Department of Health is urging communities to nominate individuals to serve as Clinic Committee members in more than 370 public clinics in the province.

‘Residents of Gauteng have an opportunity to improve the quality of service and patient experience of care at their local clinics by nominating individuals to serve as Clinic Committee members in more than 370 public clinics in the province. Nominations are now open until the end of January 2024,’ said the provincial department in a statement on Sunday.

The department further added that Clinic Committees play a vital role in ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in the governance of public clinics through public participation, assisting in addressing health needs of the communities they serve, and ensuring accountability and effective management of the facilities.

‘They are statutory bodies appointed by the MEC for the Health and Wellness in accordance with Section 42 of the National Health Act, No.61 of 2003. Members are appointed for a three
-year term, and they may serve for not more than three consecutive terms.

‘We would like to urge communities to nominate individuals who will voluntarily conduct oversight in an effort to improve health services and patient experience of care at our clinics. The committee consists of eight members who include five community members, three ex-officio members who may be a local councillor, health representative, and a community development worker,’ explained MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.

The criteria to qualify as a Clinic Committee member in Gauteng is that the nominated individual must:

Be 18 years of age and older.

Be a South African citizen.

Have at least a Matric qualification.

Not been certified by a court of Law as being of unsound mind.

Not been convicted of a crime without an option of a fine, unless they have received a free pardon or a period of 10 years has lapsed since release from prison and they are certified as fully rehabilitated by the Department of Correctional S
ervices.

Reside in the community serviced by the clinic.

Have sound knowledge, understanding and involvement in community work.

At least have sound knowledge of the health sector.

Have skills and/or experience in community development and leadership.

Nominations opened on Sunday, 14 January and will close on Wednesday, 31 January 2024 at 4:30 pm.

Nomination forms are available at clinics across the province or can be downloaded on the Gauteng provincial government website on www.gauteng.gov.za under the Department of Health/publication page or using this link: https://www.gauteng.gov.za/Departments/CPM-001006/Announcements.

Submissions should be made to the respective local clinic and must include the contact details of the person or organisation making the nomination, the profile or CV of the person being nominated with the contacts of relevant references for the nominee.

Source: South African Government News Agency

National education quality assurance body, Umalusi, has approved the release of the November 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

This was announced by Umalusi council chairperson Professor Yunus Ballim at a media briefing on Monday.

More than 890 000 fulltime and part-time candidates sat for the matric exams administered by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) at the back end of 2023.

‘Having studied all the evidence presented, EXCO of Council concluded that the examinations were administered largely in accordance with the regulations pertaining to the conduct, administration and management of the [NSC] examinations.

‘EXCO of Council therefore approves the release of the DBE November 2023 [NSC] examination results,’ Ballim said.

He added that irregularities that were identified during the writing and marking stages of the examinations ‘were not systemic and therefore did not compromise the overall credibility and integrity’ of the NSC exams administered by the DBE.

‘In respect of ide
ntified irregularities, the DBE is required to block the results of all candidates implicated in irregularities including the candidates who are implicated in the alleged acts of dishonesty pending the outcome of the DBE investigations and verification by Umalusi.

‘Umalusi is concerned about the recurring instances of printing and packaging errors in question papers and the ongoing practice of group copying.

‘The DBE is required to address the directors for compliance and improvement highlighted in the quality assurance of assessment report and to submit an improvement plan by the 15th of March 2024,’ he said.

The ministerial announcement on the exam results is expected to be made by DBE Minister Angie Motshekga on Thursday (18 January) with the general result release set for the next day (Friday).

Examination challenges

Umalusi CEO, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, laid bare some of the issues that some learners experienced during the examinations.

The challenges were related to printing errors, poor print quality a
nd translation quality.

These include:

A printing error affected a question worth three marks in the Physical Sciences Paper 2.

In the North West, the same paper was also affected with missing grid lines in a question worth six marks.

In Limpopo, major printing errors affected questions (translated in both English and Afrikaans) worth more than 60 marks in civil service, 31 and 14 marks in construction and more than 20 marks in woodworking.

Poor translation quality affected two questions worth three marks in the Afrikaans translated version paper of Geography Paper 1.

Cultural and political errors in the Mathematical Literacy Paper 1 and Mandarin Paper 1 were also acknowledged.

At least 64 candidates who wrote the isiZulu First Additional Language Paper 2 were not informed that new poems and short stories would be introduced for the examinations and therefore the candidates prepared based on outdated set works

‘To mitigate the possible impact of the above errors on performance of candidates, the quest
ions concerned were excluded from the marking process and the marks achieved upscaled using conversion tables.

‘Not withstanding that, Umalusi urges all role players to put in stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of errors like these. This is because being fair to candidates means, among other things, being able to foresee and address any factor that may result in candidates performing poorly due to no fault of their own,’ he said.

Rakometsi emphasised that while group copying incidents are lower, Umalusi remains ‘seriously concerned about the group copying cases’ involving 945 NSC candidates that were detected by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

‘These cases are not yet resolved because the numbers are still being verified. Of the total, 763 cases…were detected in KwaZulu-Natal and 164 cases…were detected in Mpumalanga.

‘Umalusi is extremely encouraged by the fact that there were no detected cases of paper leakages. No papers were leaked in these examinations and…the examinations have the
refore not been compromised in terms of their credibility and integrity,’ Rakometsi.

Source: South African Government News Agency

OPUWO: The Opuwo Town Council has issued a warning to livestock owners to maintain suitable enclosures to keep their livestock from roaming within the town’s boundaries.

Extensive amounts of livestock, including goats, sheep, cattle, and pigs, are currently being kept within the town’s boundaries, with some being brought in from neighbouring villages.

The growth in the animal population poses unique challenges, with the town council’s technical director, Karui Rikambura, describing the situation as problematic and ‘backward.’

Rikambura noted in a recent interview with Nampa that the situation is concerning since it hinders development at the town and narrows its scope to village level.

He said one of the contributing factors is the region’s 10-year drought, which has forced farmers to migrate to towns in search of greener pastures and water for their remaining animals.

Despite the council’s concerted efforts, Rikambura stated that keeping animals out of the town boundaries is nearly impossible since Opuw
o, like other northern towns, is located in common lands with no fencing to keep the animals at bay.

Rikambura also voiced his discontent with the town council’s excessive expenditure on maintaining the impounded animals, saying the penalty for confiscating the livestock is insufficient to compensate for the monies set aside to care for them.

‘The council frequently loses thousands of dollars in holding these animals,’ Rikambura said.

In some cases, the council spends at least N.dollars 2 000 per cow only for the owner to pay less than N.dollars 200 in detention fees.

The transgressor’s charge under the pound regulations of the Local Authorities Act is N.dollars 1.00 per animal per day for all animals except for sheep and goats, and N.dollars 5.00 per sheep or goat per day.

Grazing costs for all animals except sheep and goats are set at N.dollars 4.50 per animal per day, and N.dollars 2.30 per sheep or goat per day.

Feeding costs for all animals except sheep and goats are N.dollars 8.25 per animal per d
ay, with goats and sheep being charged at N.dollars 2.50.

The council has said it cannot be held liable for any missing, dead or sick animals, or any damage to gardens or crops by animals kept withing town boundaries.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Over the last six months, police have arrested at least 11 people in relation to the buying and selling of fake certificates.

This according to Umalusi CEO, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, who was speaking during a media briefing on Monday.

‘Since the [National Senior Certificate exams] State of Readiness Media Briefing held on 13 October 2023 during which we, amongst others, informed the public about the safeguards implemented to ensure the authenticity and credibility of Umalusi certificates, eleven suspects have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on different dates.

‘The first two suspects were arrested in Burgersfort in Limpopo on 27 October, one suspect was arrested in Pretoria in November, the next three were arrested on 20 November, and the last five were nabbed on 13 December 2023 again in Burgersfort, Limpopo,’ he said.

Furthermore, a Department of Higher Education and Training official is facing a charge of corruption for issuing a diploma certificate in exchange for cash.

‘Police inve
stigations are ongoing and Umalusi will continue to work closely with the law enforcement agencies in whatever way possible to ensure that the scammers or fraudsters are made to face the full might of the law,’ Rakometsi said.

He asserted that the education quality assurance body ‘has got no business with fake certificates’ and is mandated to issue authentic certificates to qualifying candidates.

‘Fake certificates are issued by scammers or fraudsters who are not employees of Umalusi.

‘We advise all employers both in the public and private sectors to consider verifying their current and future employees’ qualifications through the verification agencies whose contact details are available on the website of Umalusi (www.umalusi.org.za).

‘On the landing page, you simply click on the Certification and Verification icon,’ Rakometsi said.

Source: South African Government News Agency