The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, MP, has given a progress update on the implementation of the R4.5 billion that the government committed for financial assistance to poor students, but yet academically deserving.
Minister Nzimande said, ‘the importance of education cannot be overemphasized and access to higher education and training cannot be determined by student’s socio economic conditions but by the capacity to excel in studies. This remains the government’s promise to not exclude poor students’.
To date, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has received claims amounting to R373.3 million for 17 580 students. Institutions are experiencing difficulties with locating students that are on the historic debt list as some of the students had managed to source funding elsewhere prior to the government’s announcement.
Thus, it is envisaged that a large amount from the historic debt allocation will be made available to support unfunded first year students.
A further R68.5 million for 1 269 registered continuing students who were on the historic debt list and who qualified academically for continuing funding has been claimed by universities.
‘The deadline for institutions to submit claims to NSFAS was 31 August 2016. We trust that the amounts claimed by institutions will improve significantly, said Minister’.
Enquires:
Busiswa Gqangeni
Cell: 061 351 2695 / 079 547 5299
E-mail: Gqangeni.B@dhet.gov.za
