The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the South African Union of Student Representative Councils (SAUS) will meet the national Department of Higher Education and Training at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park from 28 to 29 August 2009.
The aim is to present the NYDA and SAUSs recommendations to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) review process. The Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande recently established a Ministerial Committee to review the functioning of the NSFAS, looking at, among other things, the strengths and shortcomings of the funding scheme.
Universities recently came under criticism following an amount of R50 million in unspent funds, which were returned to the coffers of NSFAS in the last financial year.
In line with the government's priority programme of providing free education up to the undergraduate level, the NYDA will call on Department of Higher Education and Training to build on the experiences of NSFAS to gradually introduce free education. This calls for the review of the funding formula, by significantly reducing the percentage of the loan and increasing that of free bursary.
The seminar is hosted under the theme: Reconfiguring NSFAS towards free higher and further education and training.
Media is invited as follows:
Date: 28 August 2009
Venue: Emperors Palace, Kempton Park
Time: 13h00
Enquiries:
Siyabonga Magadla
Tel: 012 309 7868
Cell: 083 686 9016
Issued by: National Youth Development Agency
28 August 2009
