Student leaders of technical and vocational education and training colleges (TVET) have taken the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to task over its absence in dealing with accommodation problems faced by students in the sector.
The South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Student Association (Satvetsa), the body comprising student leaders from all 50 colleges in South Africa, said the department – which sets the standards for student accommodation providers – was missing in action to ensure compliance with the standards.
The secretary-general of Satvetsa, Wongani Mgwali, said it was about time that the department of higher education was part of the engagements with private accommodation providers at TVET colleges.
“A majority of the private accommodation providers do not meet the standards,” he said.
“DHET is responsible for setting the standards for accommodation but they are not part of the process of checking whether these standards are met; the responsibility is left to only NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme).”
Mgwali was responding to an announcement by NSFAS administrator Freeman Nomvalo that the public funding scheme will be conducting an accommodation road show in July.
Nomvalo made the announcement on Friday after meeting student leaders and the principal of Sabata Dalindyebo Technical and Vocational Education and Training College, in Eastern Cape, whose students were evicted by landlords because of non-payment.
Pictures of students sleeping in lecture halls at the college’s Ngcobo campus after being kicked out of private residence because of not paying rent for almost six months circulated on social media last week.
The evictions also brought the spotlight on the quality of student accommodation.
Some TVET colleges are situated in townships and rural areas, where accommodation standards is a problem.
Mgwali said Satvetsa would be part of a consultative meeting with NSFAS on Tuesday to give input on the road shows.
The meeting will also be attended by representatives of the TVET branch in the department of higher education and training and the South African Public Colleges Organisation representing principals of all TVET colleges.
