As a member of the left progressive forces, YCLSA and SACP respectively. I would like to welcome the state visit of Cde Blade Nzimande to Cuba. I hope this visit will bear fruits of success onto our most troubled Higher Eduction Sector. However, I am hoping that the Minister will now get time to visit our institutions or give us answers very soon. In the Durban University of Technology alone, we are having many problems that are NFSAS related. Firstly, we have a problem with the NSFAS policy that says B-techstudents are not allowed to be paid for. To us as student leaders, this policy is derogatory and mortifying to students in UOT's black students in particular. This policy is a form of exclusion as if we are still living in the aparthied era at least back than black people could still enroll for Degrees. We need all these students to be in the system before the end of this week. Secondly, the budget allocated to DUT does not address our financial problems as an institution that attracts prodiminantly black students from disadvantaged backgrounds, so we call on the honourable minister Cde Blade Nzimande to intervene on this issue immediately. Our leaders must stop making populist statements, that arouse poor communities about access to Higher Education because when students come to institutions of Higher learning, they are shown a 'middle finger'. MZAMO KHANYILE DUPTY CHAIRPERSON YCLSA-DUT DURBAN BRANCH 0313732731 On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 9:18 AM, Dominic.Tweedie <[email protected]>wrote:
> > *[image: SA Coat of Arms] > > Department of Higher Education and Training Statement, 30 January 2011* > > > *Successful visit by Minister Nzimande to the Republic of Cuba* > > > The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, > accompanied by senior officials of the department, on Friday, concluded a > highly successful working visit to the Republic of Cuba, which began on > Monday the 24th of January 2011. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen > cooperation between the two countries in the field of Higher Education and > Training, building on, and expanding the cooperation that has existed > between the two countries since the 1994 breakthrough in South Africa. > > Minister Nzimande paid a courtesy visit to one of the Vice Presidents of > Cuba, HE Mr Jose Ramon Fernandez, had successful meetings with the Minister > of Higher Education, HE Mr Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, the Vice Minister of > Higher Education, Dr Oberto Santin Caceres, and also had an exchange with > the Minister of Basic Education HE Dr Ena Elsa Velazquez Cobiella, > respectively. The Minister also visited the University of Havana, the > Agrarian University of Havana, and two research institutes associated with > the Agrarian University, namely the National Centre for Agricultural Health, > and the Institute of Animal Science. > > Though exploratory, the Minister and his delegation had very fruitful > exchanges in all these engagements, on which further work will now be > undertaken, leading to the signing of an agreement in the second half of > this year. Initial areas of cooperation that have been identified are: > > > > - Teacher Education > - Veterinary Sciences > - Languages Studies (ie the teaching of Spanish and African Studies in > SA and Cuba respectively) > - Models for expanding access to Higher Education, based on the Cuban > model of Municipal University Campuses > - Promotion and expansion of relations, research and co-operation > between South African and Cuban universities. > > > This visit by Minister Nzimande follows a very successful state visit by > President Zuma in December, and sought to build on it, within the area of > Higher Education and Training. Throughout the visit, Minister Nzimande was > very heartened by the warm reception from all levels of the Cuban > Government, and the determination on both sides to further deepen the > relationship, which spans many years, including during the dark days of > apartheid. > > Minister Nzimande was very impressed with the achievements of Cuba in > higher education. Since the triumph of the Cuban revolution in 1959, Cuba > has to date produced over 1 million university graduates, and has grown the > number of universities from 3 in 1959 to 69 by 2010. Part of this success is > attributable to the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Higher Education in > 1976 and the expansion of university education through the establishment of > a university campus at each and every one of the Cuban municipalities. > > Indeed Minister Nzimande conveyed to the Cubans the unwavering support and > solidarity of the South African government with the Cuban government and > people, and our desire to continue working with the rest of the world for > the lifting of the illegal and universally condemned blockade against Cuba. > > *Contact: * > *Nqaba Nqandela* > *Cell: 079 693 6829* > *E-mail: [email protected]* > * * > *Issued by: Department of Higher Education and Training* > *30 Jan 2011* > > > > -- > You are subscribed. This footer can help you. > Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to > this message. > You can visit the group WEB SITE at > http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery > options, pages, files and membership. > To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected]. > You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to > put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to > this address (repeat): [email protected] . > -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
