No money for campus counselling services, says Pandor
Minister of Higher Education and Training Naledi Pandor says the government cannot give institutions of higher learning more money for counselling services.
No money for campus counselling services, says Pandor
Minister of Higher Education and Training Naledi Pandor says the government cannot give institutions of higher learning more money for counselling services.
She was addressing various vice chancellors and student bodies in Boksburg on Friday - on plans to address violence on campuses.
Pandor admits she is concerned at the levels of violence at institutions and says she believes a sector-based approach will yield results.
ALSO READ: The healthcare system needs to improve, admits Mabuza
Students at the Tshwane University of Technology in Soshanguve embarked on a six-week shutdown after a student was shot allegedly by police when violence broke out during SRC elections.
A 19-year-old student was stabbed and killed allegedly by a fellow student at the University of Zululand in September and close to 50 rape cases have been reported at various institutions across the country.
“We don’t have any more money, there aren’t more resources. We are making huge sums of public resources available to properly to support poor and working-class students to access higher education. We don’t have more money for counselling and social work and we are going to look internally at how senior students begin to play a mentorship role and are supported to do so. So, don’t look for more money, it’s not there, the country is in dire financial circumstances,” Pandor said.
The South African Students Union (SAUS) recommended several solutions to address the challenges.
“Universities must have a clear consolidated security plan, there must be a clear policy on sexual harassment and gender-based violence. There must be an amendment of the university prospectus to include issues of safety, but also our residences must be secure, there must palisade fencing to protect students. Above all, we want security on our campuses to be well trained, so they are responsive to these issues and partnership between the universities, students and the police to ensure visible police patrol on campuses,” said SAUS president Misheck Mugabe.
Pandor admitted that TVET colleges have been neglected and this has to change.