Universities and students are the biggest winners in Pravin Gordhan’s medium-term budget
Universities and students will receive an additional R17bn over the next three years, making them the biggest winner in Wednesday’s medium-term budget policy statement. The R17bn — which includes R7.6bn to universities to compensate for the fees freeze for students whose families earn less than R600,000 a year and another R9.2bn to bolster the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) — follows on the allocation of the R11.2bn announced in the budget speech in February. The budget statement cautions that "a roadmap" is needed to fully finance the costs of study for poor students. Speaking at a briefing to journalists, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said that all stakeholders were invited to participate in finding solutions. "We need a roadmap for the future, but not one on the basis of ‘I will burn the next bus or else’. This is not a government that is not listening or engaging." The policy statement hints, though, that free higher education is not on the cards. While universi...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.