Staff Reporter

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is perturbed by the occurrences of the past few days, the disruptions in learning activities for beneficiaries in universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

“These interruptions have been mainly to the changes in policies and guidelines that govern how the system disburses funds to students, more especially the new allowance payment system introduced by NSFAS,” said Board Chairman Ernest Khosa at a briefing in Pretoria on Monday. 

“Throughout the years, the scheme has undergone a series of changes and improvements in its processes as well as funding eligibility criteria; this was mainly to ensure that the funding solution being offered to students in higher education and learning is moving with the times and is fit purpose,” he said. 

Khosa said it was a tradition that before the finalisation and release of the guidelines, the scheme embarks on a consultation process with sector stakeholders such as the University South Africa(USAF), South Africa’s Public College Organisation (SAPCO), South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Student Association(SATVETSA) and South African Union of Students (SAUS); to review the guidelines and ensure that they still speak to current challenges faced by students. 

Between September 2021 and September 2022, NSFAS Chief Executive Officer Andile Nongogo had several engagements with USAF to discuss funding guidelines and changes in disbursement methods and one of these engagements resulted in the formation of a task team consisting of representatives from NSFAS, USAF and the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. 

The CEO discussed, amongst others, the introduction of the direct payment method and taking over student accommodation during a meeting held on the 15th of September 2022. 

These matters had been introduced to universities Vice-Chancellors at a previous session as well. 

Additionally, NSFAS held national and regional consultations between June 2022 and October 2022 to solicit inputs from stakeholders for consideration, and these inputs were taken into consideration in amending the policies. 

“Furthermore, we continued to engage as a scheme with university management and student leadership on the implementation of the direct payment solution until 21 July 2023.” 

“It is, therefore, worrisome that the disturbances in question are attributed to an insinuation that NSFAS is imposing system changes; we pride ourselves in being an organisation that promotes accessibility and consultation.”

After thorough investigation, improved relationships with third-party data sources such as SARS and engagements with Auditor General South Africa, NSFAS sought to re-evaluate some applications whose funding had been approved. 

After this exercise, investigation results indicated some applicants were not deserving of the funding and had submitted falsified or fraudulent documents; these had to be instantly defunded as a continuation of knowingly funding individuals who do not meet funding requirements would be going against the provisions of the funding policy, while depriving deserving students. 

A total of 45 927 were defunded as a result. For example, students would provide correct parental relationships in their first application attempt. 

When they get rejected due to the financial status of those parents, and when they reapply, they submit different parental relationships. 

“When we did reevaluation, our system picked up the original information previously submitted. And after re-evaluation, funding was reinstated for 14 703 and 31 224 remained unsuccessful, with most first-time entering students having a household income of more than 350k and returning students either not meeting the required academic progression.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

Edwin Naidu

After much initial optimism as Unisa’s first woman vice-chancellor, the troubled tenure of Professor Puleng LenkaBula is about to be interrupted by the appointment of an administrator by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande. 

The Minister announced on 4 August 2023 his intention to appoint an administrator in terms of Section 49B of the Higher Education Act, 101 of 1997, which empowers him to appoint an administrator and dissolve the council at Unisa. 

The decision, which could spell the end for LenkaBula, whose term began in January 2021, follows damning reports by Independent Assessor Professor Themba Mosia and the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on Unisa, Chaired by Dr Vincent Maphai.

In a statement, the Ministry said that Nzimande is satisfied that the Independent Assessor’s report reveals financial and other maladministration of a severe nature which affects the effective functioning of Unisa. 

The Ministerial Task Team (MTT) conducted an Independent Review of UNISA’s ‘mission drift’ – which had massive implications for the financial sustainability and future of UNISA. 

The MTT also made a rigorous assessment of how the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its associative disruptions and shifts will affect many aspects of the academic mission, academic programmes, markets and operating model of UNISA.

The 316-page report by Mosia recommended that Council and management at Unisa be axed, stating that appointing an administrator is in the best interest of Unisa and higher education in an open and democratic society.

The Minister has allowed the UNISA Council to make written representations to him within seven days of receiving his letter. 

Nzimande has written to Unisa Council Chairperson, Mr James Maboa, on the 4th of August 2023, of his intention to appoint an administrator. 

The latest on the goings-on at Unisa is a far cry from the optimism shown by LenkaBula in December 2020 before her taking up the hot seat. In her first interview, she told me that she wants Unisa institution to reclaim its space as an innovative leader in distance and open education and make sure the university contributes to South African and Africa-wide goals on sustainable development.

On top of that, she wants to ensure the university is receptive to gender transformation for all women of colour who were marginalised in the past.

She said that she was mindful of the enormity of the task facing her but ready for the challenge as the only woman in 148 years to head one of Africa’s most prominent universities and the institution that 1946 pioneered tertiary distance learning.

“When I was called by the chair and deputy chair of the council after they decided to check with me whether I would be able to, in principle, accept, I thought, okay, this is just a general progression into what I would have tried, or wanted to apply for—which is the VC role. It only dawned on me two or three hours later when they announced publicly that I had been appointed,” she said.

“I thought, oh no. This is more than what I thought I had raised my hand for, in the sense that now the expectations and the burden of being the first will haunt me or invite me to be purposeful around my duties and responsibilities. So yes, it is rather… overwhelming now,” she said. 

Almost three years later, it has gone wrong LenkaBula – ironically as South Africa begins to celebrate National Women’s she looks set to follow the University of Cape Town’s former vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng as the second high-profile casualty. 

INSIDE EDUCATION 

Johnathan Paoli

THE University of South Africa (Unisa) celebrated its 150th Anniversary in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa on Monday.

The event was organised jointly by Unisa and the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), through the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Ethiopia. 

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, delivered the keynote address, themed “Science diplomacy (and innovation) in the reclaiming of Africa’s intellectual futures into the next 150 years”; pointing out her personal link to the university and its rich history. 

A hundred years ago, Pandor’s grandfather, prominent academic ZK Matthews, became the first black man to graduate from Unisa.

“Africa recognises Unisa as being a life-changing institution for many people, especially the working class, who don’t often enjoy the opportunities offered by elite and expensive contact universities,” Minister Pandor continued.

The Minister raised the significant achievements of the University, producing 800 Master’s graduates and numerous PhDs across Africa.

“These graduates, and other Unisa alumni across the continent, should be used to good effect as full time researchers in our various ministries, departments, and public institutions, because that is what is meant by reclaiming intellectual futures. Through their research and the skills they have acquired, they will inform the kinds of changes we wish to see,” she said.

She went on to point to the necessity of creating a set of African countries that can facilitate the ability to create a new and different world, stressing the eradication of poverty as well as utilising intellectual resources to develop concrete plans. More importantly the need to become the best quality Africans, and not to copy the West.

She cited the example of African issues that require urgent solutions as those ranging from how to turn shanty towns into smart cities, devising a cure for a disease killing thousands,  African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, to the development of a vaccine for HIV and a new treatment for tuberculosis.

Minister Pandor said that the possibilities of science are limitless, proceeding with groundbreaking research and innovation, she reminded the gathering of the inevitability of the increasing importance of multilateralism, and how this will be strengthened as countries break through frontiers with far greater speed and effectiveness through cooperation.

“My hope,” she said, “is that in rebooting multilateralism and recasting it, science will also help to fortify the bonds of global solidarity on many of the pressing issues of our time. It is time that the issues of Africa become the preeminent issues of the globe. It is only if we, as Africans, make this our agenda that we will achieve this objective.”

Prof Puleng Lenkabula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), briefly recounted the institution’s illustrious history as the world’s first – and preeminent – distance education institution.

“Africans across the continent, and the diaspora, can be immensely proud of this unique innovation that Unisa has added to human civilization as an African contribution,” Vice-Chancellor Lenkabula said.

Describing the evening as a celebration of the South African and Ethiopian governments and people, she pointed to the Pan-African nature of Unisa that shapes futures in the service of humanity and went on to celebrate the establishment of the Ethiopia Regional Centre as a significant milestone in this endeavor. 

“We have looked into ten catalytic niche areas central to the developmental questions that the continent faces, a solutions system that we as Africans through knowledge, research, innovation, research, engagement and partnership can establish,” she continued.

In closing she welcomed attendees to “this important celebration of the university of leaders, the university that is a partner to the continent, and the university that projects Africa’s civilizations, knowledge and technologies across the globe”.

The Ethiopian Minister of Education, Dr Bernahu Nega, congratulated the university on its 150th anniversary as a place of cooperating thought, knowledge production and truth. 

“What is important in this continent, in my view, is not just to expand education. We must make sure that we expand quality education,” Dr Nega said.

A fascinating panel discussion of the main issues relating to reclaiming Africa’s intellectual futures followed the main speakers, with Ambassador Xolisa Makaya, Head of the South African Embassy in Ethiopia, delivering the vote of thanks.

Prof Lenkabula,  Minister Dr Pandor; and Minister Dr Bernahu Nega, presided over the cake-cutting ceremony at the conclusion of the celebration.

INSIDE EDUCATION