Minister Nzimande congratulates National Student Financial Aid Scheme bursary recipients for the 2021 academic year
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, congratulates students who were successful in applying for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding for the 2021 academic year.
Minister Nzimande confirms that 93 532 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college students and 52 992 university students did not receive NSFAS funding for the 2021 academic year.
5 376 TVET college students were not funded because their academic pathways were not aligned to the guidelines.
22 014 university students did not receive funding because they had achieved their first qualifications.
22 649 university students and 140 TVET students exceeded the N+ rule, while 88 016 TVET students and 8 326 university students failed their 2020 academic year.
Three university students did not receive NSFAS funding because they already had other bursaries.
NSFAS ensures that financial aid reaches the correct, deserving students through the new bursary scheme that gives effect to the government's vision to ensure that all academically deserving students from poor and working-class backgrounds, who are admitted to study at public universities and colleges, are provided with financial support to obtain their first undergraduate qualification.
"Our bursary guidelines are based on the principles that student funding policy should be fair, rational, affordable and implementable. This means that the policy decisions are made to ensure that students are provided with the best possible support to succeed, taking into account the different circumstances of different institutions. The funding must also be affordable within the parameters of the funding provided by government, with a focus on the need for sustainability of the scheme for the future," said Minister Nzimande.
The bursary scheme supports the goals of the National Development Plan (2012) and the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training (2013) to expand access to higher education for deserving students through financial support from government, and to support greater student success and throughput.
Minister Nzimande appeals to all current and prospective students to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the funding guidelines so that their applications are not turned down.
The Minister urges NSFAS and all institutions to conduct information sessions on the guidelines with student unions and student representative councils so as to minimise the number of students whose applications are unsuccessful.
The Department of Higher Education and Training's Khetha career development services will continue with career exhibitions and information sessions.
Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
Cell: 066 037 8859
