News24 reports that SA’s second veterinary science school is set to open in about two years at the University of Fort Hare, the institution advised on Sunday.

On Friday, during his state of the province address, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane announced that the Department of Higher Education and Training had approved the university's application to offer veterinary sciences. Currently, the only SA institution offering veterinary sciences is the University of Pretoria. Mabuyane said: "It has been under discussion for quite a long time. We have been saying that we needed a vet school, given the high number of livestock. I had a series of discussions with a number of tertiary institutions in Germany. They stand ready to support the vet school."   He added that the veterinary school would contribute to the improvement of livestock genetics, quality and disease control, "making our products more competitive in the export market". University spokesperson JP Roodt said the first intake could be as early as 2027 or 2028. The faculty will be on the Alice campus, where land has already been identified for the research farm.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaphi at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)

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