Unisa spends R85-million to support students in need
Members of senior management forego 2016 bonuses
Several universities are being rocked by violent student protests over demands for free higher education. Senior management at the University of South Africa (Unisa) recognises the serious implications for the 2016 academic year. They have therefore decided to donate half of their bonuses to assist needy students next year.
Unisa’s principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Mandla Makhanya, his registrar, seven vice-principals, five executive and deputy executive deans, as well as other members of executive management, such as executive and deputy executive directors, will contribute R10-million towards the institution’s bursary fund.
The money will be used to top up the university’s existing contribution of R74.1-million that was used to fund 4 555 undergraduate and postgraduate students this year. In addition to this, a further 13 667 students received funding of almost R226million from NSFAS. Unfortunately, 8 392 applicants, who qualified for NSFAS funding in the second semester could not be assisted.
Professor Makhanya insists that “We still have to work to ensure that we allocate more resources because the number of students who are struggling to raise their own fees is actually increasing, something that we never experienced a decade ago.”
He believes that “the current socioeconomic plight of our students inhibits their opportunity to access university education, and this initiative by Unisa management is a demonstration of our commitment to support students. It re-affirms our understanding of and sensitivity to the issues raised by them in the recent continuing protest around fees and fee adjustments.”
He said that the contribution by his management team recognises “the importance of education in the growth and development of our country”.
“We understand the demand by students for free education, but given the challenges that this worthy cause encompasses and the reality that it cannot be achieved overnight, we deemed it prudent to make our contribution to try and alleviate the inclement conditions of our students.”
Makhanya told the Mail & Guardian that the demand for NSFAS funding from students was growing, adding that “there are students who end up not necessarily getting the kind of support that they are hoping for. Making this kind of gesture from the side of management will, in our view, go some way towards addressing the plight of our students.”
“My vice principals, including the registrar, are happy to go along with me on this one. To be honest, I know the executive directors and executive deans support this move because I have been on record in appealing to them to support the Principal’s Fund that I have established.”
His senior management donated R148 040 to the Principal’s Bursary Fund last year while staff donated R59 956. Staff donations to this fund are ongoing. Makhanya was also planning to appeal to those at the lower levels of management to make donations.
The vice-chancellor also mentioned a new aggressive drive to get Unisa alumni as well as the corporate sector to contribute resources to assist students.
Unisa has a history of affordability and accessibility that made it possible for many political prisoners to study and obtain their degrees in the past. This legacy of social responsibility lives on in the generous donation of the Unisa executive management which is sensitive to the plight of deserving students.
In the same spirit, Unisa has written off almost R60-million in bad debt because of students’ inability to pay fees. “We are trying to also be sensitive to this reality. What we’ve done is to say that students that owe small amounts of money, up to R5 000, let’s not block them from graduating. Let’s allow them to graduate and then get them to make arrangements to repay once they have succeeded in getting employment.”
Makhanya said he applauded higher education minister Dr Blade Nzimande’s recent announcement on funding middle-class students whose household income is below R600 000.
“This is a significant step forward en route to achieving the desired goal of free higher education for the poor and the ‘missing middle’. Unisa will work closely with the DHET [department of higher education] and the National Skills Fund to ensure the optimal use of the bursaries and provide sound administration of the additional resources,” said Makhanya.