R80bn to fund poor students over 3 years

THE government has set aside more than R80 billion for the next three years to ensure that prospective students from poor and working-class families with a combined household income of R350000 per annum have access to higher education and training.

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande said so at the official opening of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) 2020 online application.

The 2020 application cycle will run for a period of three months and will close on November 30.

Nzimande was accompanied by his deputy minister, Buti Manamela, the director-general in the Department of Higher Education and Training Gwebs Qonde, and NSFAS Administrator Randall Carolissen.

Nzimande said students who were funded for this year by NSFAS were not required to re-apply for 2020 funding.

He said they would continue to be funded provided they met the NSFAS progression criteria.

“If you applied for NSFAS funding earlier but were not awarded NSFAS funding, you will be required to apply again for 2020,” Nzimande said.

He said Carolissen agreed to continue as NSFAS administrator to fulfil the responsibilities of management, governance and administration of the scheme during this period.

“The terms of reference for the second phase were outlined in Government Gazette No 42662,” Nzimande said.

“Despite a number of areas that require improvements in the management of NSFAS and the student funding system, Carolissen has done a tremendous job in improving the functionality of the system.”

He said they were aware of about 20000 students this year who had not yet received their NSFAS bursaries because they had not completed the forms or provided the correct documentation.

Carolissen said more than 93% of applicants had a funding decision by the end of January this year, in time for the 2019 registration process.

“No statistics are available for 2018 and indications are that funding decisions were made well after registrations commenced at institutions.”

He said 2018 had lower application numbers and the impact of additional applications resulting from the fee-free announcement resulted in late application funding decisions.

Funding decisions for 2018 were made well after registration began Blade Nzimande MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION