The Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, Connie September, on Thursday said she was “happy” with the briefing on the Department’s plans regarding post-school education.

The Committee attended a day-long workshop in Johannesburg on Wednesday, where it received briefing on the National Plan on Post-School Education, the financial health of universities and grant funding for research and teaching.

“We are very happy with the briefing. It is quite enlightening to see the kind of work the Department is doing in the sector and trying to align the university landscape with colleges,” September said.

“The plan delves into how the Sector Education and Training Authority landscape could be improved in realising the skills challenges that the country is grappling with.

“The Committee is satisfied with the analysis provided on the financial situation of many of our universities, wherein it had been identified that governance challenges are impacting on finances. We need to come up with a way to address funding challenges at many of our campuses,” September said.

She said funding models need to be sustainable. They should benefit children from poor households and broaden access to post-school education.

September said the Committee will also attend the National Skills Conference in Pretoria, where the Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to give the keynote address. The conference begins Thursday and ends on Friday.