Centralised applications for students in pipeline
The government plans to create a centralised entity to deal with applications for higher education and training institutions.
The cabinet has approved the publication of the Central Application Service Bill in the Government Gazette for public comment.
In a statement issued after its meeting this week, the cabinet said the government was committed to opening up and ensuring wider access to the post-school education and training system.
“A crucial part of this process lies in ensuring that prospective students have access to a single, affordable and easy-to-understand application system that covers multiple institutions of higher learning.”
STREAMLINING
The cabinet statement said the Central Application Service Bill provided for the establishment of a public entity that would streamline applications into higher education and training programmes, reduce the cost of application, provide applicants with information on academic programmes and enable the department of higher education and institutions of higher learning to monitor equity and demographics.
Also approved by the cabinet for publication for public comment was the Tourism Amendment Bill, which aims to improve the governance of SA tourism as an entity under the authority of a board.
It empowers the minister of tourism to determine thresholds regarding short-term home rental. The bill provides for the competence requirements of tourist guides and for the regulation of tourist guide driving.
Another bill approved for publication for public comment was the SA Public Library and Information Services Bill, which aims to further the culture of reading through the provision of public libraries, particularly in previously disadvantaged communities. The provision of public libraries is a municipal competence under the constitution, but the bill sets out national norms and standards.
“Once the bill is approved, it will address the historical inequalities in respect of public libraries and provide for sufficient accommodating resources for impaired persons, youth, elderly and non-English speakers in urban and rural areas,” the cabinet statement said.