SOUTH AFRICA

R16 billion more over medium term for higher education

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan did not say much about the funding of universities in his Budget speech, except that extra support amounting to R16 billion will go to the higher education system over the medium term (three years), writes Jaco Leuvennink for Times Live.

This will compensate universities for the freeze on their fees for the 2016 academic year and help clear student debt accrued in the academic years between 2013 and 2015.

According to the Budget review, the R16 billion will come from reprioritising R31.8 billion to support new spending requirements since the tabling of the 2015 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement in October last year.
Full report on the Times Live site