Association of Vice Chancellors of Historically Disadvantaged Tertiary Institutions in South Africa
Date: 28 Aug. 01
ASAHDI COMMENT ON THE HIGHER EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL, 2001.08.28 1. ASAHDI has no major issues of concern or disagreement on the amendments that the Minister wishes to make to the Higher Education Act. In general, therefore, we would like to support the Bill and simply request that in the future consultation with our organisation, as is the case with the two other organisations from the apartheid past, namely, SAUVCA and CTP, would have afforded us a greater constructive contribution.
2. The only major concern of a general nature and, therefore, not quite specific to the current Amendment Bill is the issue of whether the ACT will continue to be amended each time a specific problem arises from an individual institution. The difficulty with this way of developing a legislative framework and development of policy is that it makes for a bitty and disjointed picture. This particular Amendment Bill certainly creates the impression that individual instances are dictating changes in a general legal framework.
3. ASAHDI will attend the hearing on 30th August and hereby assures the Minister of its support on this current Bill.