President Zuma to launch education imbizo
President Jacob Zuma will launch a Higher Education Imbizo to address the current stand-off between students, staff and education officials at tertiary institutions.
Representatives from various sectors will attend the launch with the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, set to lead proceedings.
The Higher Education Multi-Stakeholder Imbizo is aimed at seeking solutions to the situation in higher education institutions in the country, the presidency said in a statement.
"The Imbizo, to be attended by various sectoral leaders, is to be convened by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Bonginkosi 'Blade' Nzimande, to seek the wisdom of all sectors including parents, students, business and labour, to seek solutions, given that education is a societal issue," the statement read.
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The SA Union of Students' Avela Mjajubana says they will also attend the launch today saying that there are some students who don't want to lose an academic year, even though they are committed to the Fees Must Fall movement.
"As students we are very clear that we are not committed towards losing an academic year, but we are committed towards government making a commitment that free education is going to happen in SA," Mjajubana said.
He added that if free tertiary education becomes a reality by 2018, students who lose an academic year would be "fine".