Varsities welcome plans for free higher education

UNIVERSITIES and the Federation of Unions of South Africa have welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa announcement on government’s plans for free higher education.

During his State of The Nation address last week the president announced that first-year students from households with gross combined incomes of up to R350 000 would benefit from the free higher education.

His predecessor, former president Jacob Zuma, announced that government would be looking into free education last year but left many universities in the lurch regarding the technicalities surrounding it.

“What the new president mentioned during the Sona last week is not new. Eligible students will be funded through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).” UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said.

He said that the only impact the announcement had was on the students who had not been eligible for NSFAS funding when the limit was R122 000 a year.

“We are pleased that the university’s financial aid system, which, with the new support from the Department of Higher Education and Training and NSFAS for 2018 financial aid and dealing with historic debt, should considerably ease the financial pressures on the poor.”

CPUT said that they supported the president’s announcement.