The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) welcomes the announcement by the Department of Higher Education to have disadvantaged students owing the National Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) taken off the credit bureau’s records.
It has always been our conviction that blacklisting students even before they start working was an injustice that impacted negatively on their lives. As part of the 2010 submission made to the NSFAS review committee appointed by Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande and headed by Professor Marcus Balintulo, the NYDA recommended that NSFAS must cease to blacklist owing students as such a practice put them at a disadvantage even before they enter the job market.
Such a practice carried with a stigma that prevented young people entering the job market, from getting favourable loans from banks including for home loans, vehicle finance and other necessities. This will be, as a result a relief for young people coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, who still struggle to find jobs despite having qualifications. They can now look and find jobs without the worry of a burden of being blacklisted.
The NYDA further calls on those young people who can afford to repay their study loans to do so, to ensure that NSFAS coffers are sustained and able to assist more academically deserving students.
Enquiries:
Siyabonga Magadla
National Youth Development Agency
Cell: 083 686 9016
NYDA welcomes the removal of blacklisted students from credit bureau
