The campaign to lower tuition fees began in 2015 when students at universities across South Africa protested for free, quality education. This year, students resumed protests to counter the 2017 academic year tuition hike.
EWN reports that Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has announced that each university will decide on their own tuition fee increases in 2017, but has indicated that the increase will not exceed 8%. However, the government will help an eligible student cover the difference between her 2015 tuition fees and her adjusted 2017 tuition fees at her institution. The Minister made the announcement in Pretoria on Monday 19 September.
According to the report, Minister Nzimande said the recommendation followed extensive consultation with university vice-chancellors, council chairs, student organizations and government.
EWN further reported that the minister said the government was committed to finding funding to support children from households earning less than R600,000 a year. This grant will allow these students to continue paying their 2015 fees.
Minister Nzimande said 70 per cent of all students would benefit from the model, which he said would cover the impact of an increase in NSFAS-eligible students and missing middle-class students. Ta.
Here are some reactions from the public:
student @med Police and security personnel open fire and injure school #Fees must be in the fall #FeesMustFallReloaded @wits_fmf pic.twitter.com/Ktnburd19s
— Rachel Carmen Caesar (@rceasara) September 20, 2016
#Wits Professor Robert Sherman asked police to back down and allow students to gather. #FeesMustFallReloaded @WitsVuvusela pic.twitter.com/SICuebffRs
— Nasya Smith (@NasyaSmith_SA) September 20, 2016
#Fees must be in the fall It appears that parts of Stellenbosch University are no longer in operation, including the administration building.Some classes and tests have been canceled
— Sthembile Cel (@SthembileCel) September 20, 2016
Protesters disrupt exams at Tooteville's Hatfield campus. #FeesMustFallReloaded #fees2017 #Fees required in fall 2016 pic.twitter.com/oBQLzSKE7X
— Perdeby Newspaper (@perdebynews) September 19, 2016
Looks like an explosion or tear gas #Fees must be in the fall #fees2017 protest at #WitsUniversity Continue. @CityofJoburgZA pic.twitter.com/wPS5OHmhw3
— joburgtoday.tv (@JoburgToday) September 20, 2016
We have 35 ministers and 35 MPs (for every 100,000 km, R19 792 500 is wasted in speeding by the cabinet, that's where you find the money) #Fees must be in the fall
— Musa Muhlari?? (@MusaMuhlari) September 20, 2016
waiting to find safe passage to march @WitsUniversity without being shot @wits_fmf #fees2017 #Fees must be in the fall pic.twitter.com/1AyAkKWAcu
— Rachel Carmen Caesar (@rceasara) September 20, 2016
#Fees must be in the fall Prisoners in SA have access to free education, food and accommodation.It makes me sad to think that they have a better future than our law-abiding youth.
— South African Heroes (@SA_Heroes) September 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/WitsSRC/status/778095685153456130
https://twitter.com/my_success21/status/778151274726453248
Campus: Private security and police face hostility from students. #fees2017 #FeesMustFallReloaded pic.twitter.com/PzaL6cBqkt
— Tuks FM 107.2 News (@TuksFMNews) September 20, 2016
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