Cape Town:The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has called on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to address the serious impact that the late release of funds has on learners. Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie emphasized the importance of robust administrative systems to prevent disruptions that affect students' ability to focus on their studies.

According to Parliament of South Africa, Mr. Letsie highlighted that weaknesses in any branch of the DHET could impact the entire post-school education system. He stressed the need for the department to implement measures to minimize disruptions, ensuring that students do not have to worry about basic needs such as accommodation and food.

The committee recently met with the DHET to review the department's performance for the first and second quarters of the 2026/27 financial year. The briefing included discussions on recruitment, outstanding ministerial appointments to technical and vocational education and training college councils, and the appointment of community education and training (CET) college councils.

The committee recommended that the DHET expedite the filling of internal council vacancies at CET colleges and provide a progress report. The department reported that its overall spending reached R96,690 billion in the second quarter, primarily due to transfers and subsidies to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and universities.

Mr. Letsie pointed out that a lack of planning and creative thinking are among the system's weaknesses. He urged stakeholders to honestly assess their readiness to accept first-time entrants into tertiary education for the 2027 academic year, calling for a cultural shift within the department and its entities.

The committee also encouraged the DHET to maintain effective communication through its website and ensure that institutions of higher learning keep their websites updated with relevant information.