BLADE Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education and Training , has published a draft policy to administer university residences.
The move comes after Nzimande’s department released a report on the state of university residences last year. The report found some residences sub-standard and there was no national policy or standard guidelines for university residences.
The Draft policy on student housing at public universities and norms and standards applicable was published last Thursday after consulting the Council for Higher Education.
Calling for public comment, Nzimande has proposed that:
l Residences should be within the campus security perimeter or not more that 20kms from the university with affordable public transport;
l Leased residences must be approved by the department;
l Rooms and social spaces should have a wireless or fibre optic cable for internet connection, bed frames, mattresses and mattress covers;
l Ablution facilities should have one wash basin per four students, one shower cubicle per seven students and one lavatory per five students;
l A large common room with TV ;
l In residences where meals are prepared there should be a storage facility, a kitchen with a stove per six students, lockable cold storage and cupboards, a sink and a microwave .
Universities would have to adhere to legislation on health, safety and security for students and follow policies on the construction and repairs of buildings, furniture and fittings.
Other matters relate to the funding of residences with universities expected to increase their intake for first year students by about 20% by 2018; residence accounts to be separated from those of the university for easy monitoring. A designated committee should also be formed by the university to deal with residences.
A disciplinary code should be set up and professional staff appointed.
Public comments should reach the department by the end of next month. Walter Sisulu University spokeswoman Angela Church said WSU would welcome any measures that improve the minimum standards of student accommodation .
“ R1-billion has been identified in the Turnaround Strategy to meet student accommodation needs at WSU. We have already been allocated R121-million for the provision and maintenance of accommodation.
“These funds form part of an allocation from the DHET Infrastructure and Efficiency Funding for which all universities submitted bids in 2012.”
WSU planned to ultimately provide on-campus accommodation for 50% of its student population. A total of 4500 students live on campus at WSU.
Other universities in the province had not responded to Daily Dispatch enquiries at the time of going to print. —
Blade to shake up student residences
The move comes after Nzimande’s department released a report on the state of university residences last year. The report found some residences sub-standard and there was no national policy or standard guidelines for university residences.
The Draft policy on student housing at public universities and norms and standards applicable was published last Thursday after consulting the Council for Higher Education.
Calling for public comment, Nzimande has proposed that:
l Residences should be within the campus security perimeter or not more that 20kms from the university with affordable public transport;
l Leased residences must be approved by the department;
l Rooms and social spaces should have a wireless or fibre optic cable for internet connection, bed frames, mattresses and mattress covers;
l Ablution facilities should have one wash basin per four students, one shower cubicle per seven students and one lavatory per five students;
l A large common room with TV ;
l In residences where meals are prepared there should be a storage facility, a kitchen with a stove per six students, lockable cold storage and cupboards, a sink and a microwave .
Universities would have to adhere to legislation on health, safety and security for students and follow policies on the construction and repairs of buildings, furniture and fittings.
Other matters relate to the funding of residences with universities expected to increase their intake for first year students by about 20% by 2018; residence accounts to be separated from those of the university for easy monitoring. A designated committee should also be formed by the university to deal with residences.
A disciplinary code should be set up and professional staff appointed.
Public comments should reach the department by the end of next month. Walter Sisulu University spokeswoman Angela Church said WSU would welcome any measures that improve the minimum standards of student accommodation .
“ R1-billion has been identified in the Turnaround Strategy to meet student accommodation needs at WSU. We have already been allocated R121-million for the provision and maintenance of accommodation.
“These funds form part of an allocation from the DHET Infrastructure and Efficiency Funding for which all universities submitted bids in 2012.”
WSU planned to ultimately provide on-campus accommodation for 50% of its student population. A total of 4500 students live on campus at WSU.
Other universities in the province had not responded to Daily Dispatch enquiries at the time of going to print. —
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