Higher education Minister Blade Nzimande says that for 2023 academic year, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) will be supporting over 60% of undergraduate students in the public university system and over 90% of students enrolled at TVET colleges.
Overall, there has been about an 7% increase in students the scheme will be funding this academic year.
Nzimande announced that his department has allocated R47.6 billion for student funding; R38.6 billion for universities and R8.9 billion for TVET colleges.
However, students have been petitioning for an increase in allowances all through the 2022 academic year amid inflation and the growing cost of living crisis.
The scheme revealed that it will not only increase allowances for this year but will also be introducing allowances for TVET college students.
“The scheme truly represents government’s continued commitment to breaking down barriers to accessing higher education,” said the Minister.
He adds, “I am satisfied that despite the challenges of the fiscals and so on we’ve committed to Nsfas and that we’ll fund all the students who are taken.”
Furthermore, the minister also stated that they aim to make sure that every student who requires accommodation must get it on the first day so that they are able to start the year on a positive note.
“We are asking all our institutions management to run centred and student sensitive institutions,' continued the Minister.
Nzimande affirmed that government remains committed to funding students from the poor and working class and of course students from the missing middle.
The missing middle students are categorised as those who don't qualify for government funding yet still cannot afford to pay for their education.
Meanwhile, students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and University of the Western Cape (UWC) disrupted the start of academic activities at their respective campuses this week.
They were demonstrating over financial exclusions preventing students with historical debt from registering for the 2023 academic year.
Student debt in South Africa has recently climbed to approximately R16.5 billion.
The DHET says it is working on a new comprehensive funding model wherein the issue of the missing middle students will also be addressed as they plan to avail bursaries and loans to these students.
