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Enhancing Higher Education: COSATU and NEHAWU Joint Submission on the Amendment Bill

Learn about the joint submission by COSATU and NEHAWU on the Higher Education Amendment Bill, focusing on key issues such as unemployment, skills shortages, student debt, and financial accountability. Support the progressive content of the bill to address transformation, accountability, and student access.

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Enhancing Higher Education: COSATU and NEHAWU Joint Submission on the Amendment Bill

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  1. COSATU NEHAWU Joint Submission on the Higher Education Amendment Bill 17 February 2016

  2. Opening Remarks • Opening comments; • Submission; and • COSATU Parliamentary Office.

  3. Introduction • Higher education context; • Strongly welcome and support the Bill; • Proposed amendments; • Nedlac processes and way forward; and • Conclusions.

  4. Higher Education Context • 34% unemployment; • Triple challenges of poverty, unemployment & inequality; • Skills shortages; • Unemployed graduates; • Unaffordable tuition; • Developmental agenda vs. profit; and • Student debt;

  5. Higher Education Context • NSFAS threshold; • Government NSFAS funding; • Fees must fall demand; • Outsourcing and labour broking; and • University transformation and employment equity.

  6. Support for Progressive Content of Bill • Provide for the Minister to set transformation objectives and goals. • Provide for financial and transformation accountability to the Minister in the form of Annual Reports. • Provide for financial accountability to the Auditor General in the form of Annual Reports.

  7. Support for Progressive Content of Bill • Provide oversight, regulation and intervention powers for the Department over private tertiary institutions. • Provide guidance on how university funds can be invested.

  8. Support for Progressive Content of Bill • Seek to reduce conflicts of interests and the abuse of positions in terms of private financial interests of university officials. • Provide for a variety of possible interventions to the Minister as needed; and • Institutional autonomy and academic freedom.

  9. Concerns • Consultations: • Nedlac • Unions • Students.

  10. Proposed Amendments: • Investment conditions; • Outsourcing, labour broking and privatisation; • Accountability to Parliament; • Transformation objectives and remedial action; and • Council nominations

  11. Conclusion • Support and amend bill with COSATU’s proposed amendments; • Capacitate government; • Ensure accountability; • Tackle transformation, access & fees; • Ban outsourcing and labour broking • Urgently pass Bill; • Thank you.

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