No money for campus counselling services – Minister

Minister of Higher Education and Training Naledi Pandor says the government cannot give institutions of higher learning more money for counselling services. She was addressing various vice-chancellors and student bodies in Boksburg on plans to address violence on campuses, writes Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile for Jacaranda FM.

Pandor admits she is concerned at the levels of violence at institutions and says she believes a sector-based approach will yield results. Students at the Tshwane University of Technology in Soshanguve embarked on a six-week shutdown after a student was shot allegedly by police when violence broke out during student representative council elections. A 19-year-old student was stabbed and killed allegedly by a fellow student at the University of Zululand in September and close to 50 rape cases have been reported at various institutions across the country.

“We don’t have more money for counselling and social work and we are going to look internally at how senior students begin to play a mentorship role and are supported to do so,” Pandor said.
Full report on the Jacaranda FM site