NSFAS powered my dreams
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has bridged the financial gap between Karabo Mashego (21) and his plan to further his studies.
Mashego of Sebokeng in Gauteng’s Vaal area says he would not have managed to afford tuition fees and the other expenses that come with post-matric education had he not received a bursary from NSFAS.
“In addition, the monthly allowance I receive from NSFAS enables me to sleep and study on a full stomach,” he says.
Mashego is a third-year student studying towards a degree in civil engineering at the University of Pretoria.
“Tuition fees are very expensive. For the course that I have chosen, I really could not afford to pay for a semester, never mind a single academic year,” he explains.
Mashego matriculated in 2016 and was a top learner in his class, but had no means to pay for his studies. He successfully applied for funding from NSFAS for the 2018 academic year.
“This gave me the opportunity to make my dream of studying engineering come true. Education plays a huge role in my personal development and it helps me to progress in all that I intend to achieve. Moreover, it empowers me to empower other people in my community and thus contribute to the economy of our country,” Mashego explains.
“I urge young people to apply for NSFAS funding because following your dream is not a free exercise, it needs funding, and NSFAS will bridge that gap for you,” he says.
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has opened the
NSFAS 2021 application cycle for a period of four months, from 3 August to 30 November 2020.
Students from disadvantaged and working-class backgrounds who wish to further their studies at any public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college or university may apply.
To be eligible for NSFAS funding, an applicant must be a South African citizen and come from a family with a combined annual household income of not more than R350 000. The household annual income for students with a disability should not be more than R600 000.
“In the current academic year, NSFAS has funded over 700 000 students, 248 242 at TVET colleges and 481 339 at universities (students with registrations data). This is a 20 percent increase from the previous year when we compared registration data received in the same period of 2019 versus 2020,” says Minister Nzimande.
NSFAS accounts for 40 percent of the undergraduate population at universities and 70 percent at TVET colleges.