Free education for the poor is the ultimate goal, says Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande.

We have a process in place which will draw the roadmap to get there. Let us give that process the space that it needs, the Minister said.

Minister Nzimande made the remarks during the closing of the Higher Education Multi Stakeholder Imbizo on Monday.

The Imbizo, convened by Minister Nzimande, was attended by student leadership, faith leaders, traditional leaders, trade union and business leaders from across society.

It sought to seek solutions to the situation in higher education institutions in the country.

The Minister said government heard the pressures faced by the students, as well as pleas from across society.

We have heard you all loud and clear. We have heard the student leadership telling us about the pressures they are facing. We have heard the pleas from across our society that the coming weeks and months should remain peaceful and focused, Minister Nzimande said.

The task, therefore, is to assure the student leadership that they have the backing of every organisation represented in this room as they work to ensure that every student who wants to is able to complete this academic year in peace and safety.

We all know that an inability to complete this academic year means poverty for many who don’t get their degrees and the possibility for many others that they will not be able return to university next year, he said.

The delegates agreed that there is a genuine issue around the affordability of higher education and training, as they strive to sustain the ability of the country’s institutions to hold their weight as places of learning, teaching and research in the international arena.

Calls for end of destruction

The delegates also spoke in one voice, calling for an end of destruction of classes by small groups.

We have watched very closely throughout today what has been going on at the universities. At some universities there have been attempts to disrupt those who are at work.

But here is the point: at one university, the disruption has been the work of a total of 30 people. Nobody even knows whether they are genuine students, the Minister said.

He said it was everyone’s task to give students and young people every possible support and leadership as they ensure that there is no further destruction at institutions of higher education and training.

Source: South African Government News Agency