Issued by: Ministry of Education
MINISTER OF EDUCATION, STATEMENT ON THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
The National Commission on Higher Education was established in 1995 to advise the Minister of Education on the transformation of higher education. The Commission last month released its first major instalment on the transformation of higher education in South Africa through its Discussion Document. This first public insight into its recommendations followed discussions during January this year between the Commission and the Minister of Education which focused on the need for government to introduce at the earliest opportunity policy measures in response to the Commission's final report. The discussions also focused on the need to draw wider public participation into the deliberations and discussions of the Commission. The Commission's final report will be presented to the Minister of Education on July 31, 1996.
Presently, the Commission is holding a top-level conference of international experts in Salzburg, Austria, on the future of higher education in South Africa. These discussions, combined with further workshops with national stakeholder bodies, will contribute to improving the technical aspects of the final report. This consultation must however not be confused with political consultation which the Minister would hold with stakeholders much later on the recommendations of the Commission. In the final analysis the Commission is an independent one whose members would have to provide well-considered and researched advice to the Minister of Education.
Once the final report of the Commission has been handed over to the Minister of Education, the Minister will then ask the Department of Education to draft a Green Paper on Higher Education which would then be the subject of consultations with major stakeholders through the Joint Portfolio and Standing Committees of the National Assembly and Senate. These consultations are expected to be concluded by the end of October 1996, before the Minister will seek the support of Cabinet on a White Paper on Higher Education before the end of 1996.
May 9, 1996
Contact: Lincoln Mali 083 251 4044 or (021) 457 350