Johannesburg - The ANC NGC has backed existing funding measures through the National Financial Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for poor students.
The health and education commission dismissed a push by the ANC Youth League for free higher education which it considered a constitutional guarantee.
The council resolved that funds availed to students through NSFAS were adequate to assist impoverished students.
The government's spending on the scheme has improved from R200m in 1996 to R9.6b this year.
Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor said the constitution only covered basic education.
The commission however said the party had not acted “faithfully” to resolutions made in Polokwane to expand the provision of free higher education for poor students.
“Financial exclusion and the experiences or students in the university sector were cited as indication that we have not really done in their view as much as could be done with free higher education.
“We are referring to students who do not have financial means and really it is ensuring that those who are least financially able to meet the cost of higher education are supported,” Pandor said.
The growth levels of university fees was also a sore point for the commission which implored the Higher Education Department to develop a regulatory framework. This would be used to curb “massive growth” in higher education sector fees.
Universities South Africa is reported to have said this year's government grant to universities, which is R22b was still about R12.b short of the R36b they were in need of. University chancellors also warned this would drive up fees as they could not afford their operational costs on the grant alone.
Labour Bureau