Minister appoints committee on HE transformation

By Nicola Jenvey. The appointment of the Ministerial Oversight Committee on Transformation in South African Public Universities caused waves within hours of its announcement last Wednesday, including questions over its composition. Among other things, the committee has been tasked with developing a transformation charter and benchmarks for the entire university sector. Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced the composition of the committee that is mandated to monitor transformation in the country's public universities and to advise him on policy to combat discrimination and promote social cohesion. It will also probe the role of universities in promoting a non-discriminatory society beyond academia. The background of the committee dates to the 1997 White Paper that set the framework for transforming higher education and sought to guide programmes and processes in a post-apartheid education system. Read more...