Digital learning devices for varsity students prioritised

Minister Blade Nzimande said the learning devices were for NSFAS-funded students currently registered at universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.

University students who are not funded in the scheme did not qualify “under the Covid-19 digital learning device scheme”.

“The provision of such devices is extremely urgent. As part of the government’s response to Covid-19, a formal, transparent, competitive tender process was followed,” said Nzimande.

He said the DHET had adopted this route instead of an emergency tender process to avoid any deviation from the normal competitive procurement process.

“The reason for this was our serious concern that the process must be beyond reproach given recent experiences of reported corrupt practices experienced around Covid-19 procurement of PPE.”

Nzimande said the administrator of NSFAS had informed him that none of the bids competing for the supply of learning devices as specified in the bid process had achieved the mandatory requirements as required in the bid document.

“For this reason, no tender was awarded.

“This is, of course, unfortunate and regrettable only in the sense that the procurement of learning devices will not take place right now. However, we are also quite clear that the rules of good governance and due process must be followed to ensure a judicious outcome in the public interest.”

Nzimande said the DHET was also aware of a campaign driven by some commercial interests, using false flag accusations about supposed “sabotage and undue interference” by the department to mask their own interests in trying to gang-press NSFAS into making shoddy decisions.

“This will not be allowed to take root in the post-school education and training system.”

He said NSFAS was starting the process of learning devices procurement from scratch in order to follow the letter of the law.

“Government policy is clear that our procurement process must promote an inclusive economy with diverse players, with specific priority given to credible broad-based black economic enterprises to ensure we that broaden the base of our economy,” he said.

“Although this puts us back in terms of the quest to access sufficient learning devices, we will stay within the law and due administrative process. The results of this process will be open for public scrutiny once the process is independently and fairly completed.”

This comes as parliament had, last week, expressed concern over delays in procurement of laptops for the NSFAS qualifying students.

“It is now four months since minister Blade Nzimande announced that government will procure laptops for all NSFAS qualifying students in universities and TVET colleges,” the chairperson of the portfolio committee on higher education, science and technology Philly Mapulane said.

“Students have since been eagerly awaiting the delivery of these laptops which to date, remain undelivered as a result of unnecessary delays in the finalisation of the procurement processes by NSFAS.”

He said the committee was greatly concerned about the allegations brought to its attention.

It said the allegations included the interference with the procurement processes of the laptops.

“Attempts are being made to manipulate the procurement process, and to finally get it aborted because certain service providers are not recommended following supply chain management processes of NSFAS.”

Mapulane said the committee took these allegations seriously and would be following them up with the administrator of NSFAS Dr Randall Carolisen.

“We would like to appeal to Carolisen not to allow any undue interference with the supply chain management processes of NFSAS, and to speedily conclude this process of the procurement of the laptops so that students from poor and working-class families can be able to study and be taught remotely.

“The country cannot afford another Covid-19 procurement scandal,” said Mapulane.

Resources

• For more information, visit the Department of Higher Education and Training by clicking here.
• To access your NSFAS account, click here.

Today we feature a bright woman, Sisipo Lolwana, a Plumbing student from Lovedale TVET College in the Eastern Cape, for the TVET month campaign. She thrives from being independent and successful in the Plumbing industry which was once deemed as not suitable for women. #TVETMonth pic.twitter.com/u5BlfUXsGp

— HigherEduTrainingZA (@HigherEduGovZA) September 2, 2020