A bigger budget and better opportunities
HIGHER Education Minister Blade Nzimande has said the increase in bursary allocation enabled his department to provide accommodation and travel allowances to eligible students.
“Given the substantial increase in the bursary allocation from R2.437 billion in 2017, to R5.164bn in 2018, and R6.517bn in 2019, for the introduction of fee-free education, the department is able to provide accommodation or travel allowances to qualifying students,” Nzimande said.
He revealed this in a written response to a parliamentary question from IFP’s Lindinkosi Ngcobo.
Ngcobo had enquired about plans to provide accommodation for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students, to deal with unhealthy and dangerous squatting conditions, that exposed them to criminal elements.
“In view of the increase in funding, the department has standardised rates for allowances to ensure TVET student’s basic needs are met to make them successful in their studies.”
Nzimande said the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) assessed financial eligibility of all applications, while the college’s financial aid committees verified the students’ supporting documents to determine eligibility for either travel or accommodation allowance.
“NSFAS pays out the allowance to students, in accordance with the recommendations of the college financial aid committee, and the college bursary rules and guidelines, developed by the Department of Higher Education and Training. In 2018, about 115 000 students qualified for accommodation allowances,” Nzimande said.
The minister also said six more technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges were earmarked for student housing in this financial year.
Nzimande said development of decent and affordable student housing, for universities and TVET colleges, was a priority of government.
“The student housing infrastructure programme has been developed to accelerate the provision of 300 000 beds over 10 years, which includes 100 000 beds for TVET college students,” he said.
The Lephalale and Northlink colleges, in Limpopo and Western Cape, were the next projects in the pipeline.
“A further six colleges will be selected for consideration during the course of this year,” Nzimande said.
He said his department was assisting TVET colleges with the repairs and maintenance of existing student accommodation, through the college capital infrastructure efficiency grant.
“The Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation is also working towards supporting the development of student housing.”