Uncategorized
By Johnathan Paoli
Despite promises of readiness, Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has announced the postponement of the launch of National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS) online application.
Applications were meant to open on Tuesday, but are now only opening on Friday.
The minister told reporters that despite previous assurances, and following consultations between her and stakeholders in the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector last week; the scheme had to delay the launch in order to
engage critical challenges in the application process.
The launch was postponed due to the need for a dry run of the online application system to stakeholders. Also, feedback received has already informed critical system changes to simplify the online application and make it accessible to all.
“It is critical that NSFAS is adequately prepared, in terms of resources and systems, to meet the growing demand when we open for the 2025 online application process,” Nkabane said in Pretoria on Monday.
“Many students have expressed frustration over delayed payments and inefficiencies of NSFAS systems. Our constitutional democracy makes provision that the people shall govern; and that means that the people must play a critical role in the administration of the country and we are committed to getting guidance from different
role players in the PSET sector.”
The postponement follows NSFAS administrator Sithembiso Freeman Nomvalo telling a PSET meeting last week that it was all systems go for Tuesday. He confirmed that certain bugs within the application programme had been ironed out and that the process would be smoother, more user-friendly and accessible for prospective applicants.
The NSFAS also announced that application would open on Tuesday on its website over the weekend.
On Monday, the minister who was flanked by Nomvalo, his advisors and other members of the executive management, told reporters that the stakeholder engagements highlighted several concerning issues regarding the scheme and its
assistance to students.
She said the scheme remained the main source of instabilities in the country’s institutions of higher learning, and emphasised that delays in the release of matric examination results translated into delays in funding decisions.
Nkabane said she intended to set up a meeting with her basic education counterpart, Siviwe Gwarube, to iron out interface problems between the information of matriculants following their examination results, and the application process of the funding scheme.
She also announced that her department would seek to increase the intake of the college system by targeting one million enrolments in community colleges and 2.5 million in public and private TVET colleges by 2030.
In terms of universities, she said the department would continue to diversify the institutions based on their strengths and the needs of the communities in which they were located by targeting 1.6 million enrolments by the same deadline.
Nkabane stressed the need for alignment between the country’s skills needs and the curriculum content, as well as institutional governance matters and the role of councils.
“It is my contention that ongoing discussion with student formation and political bodies will shape the future of higher education policy, particularly regarding student financial aid and accessibility,” the minister said.
She said the collective inputs from both student movements as well as management from the institutions helped shape the department’s policy positions and approaches to matters of teaching and learning and other areas of interest.
“Having received a presentation during these stakeholder consultations and having noted the comment received from stakeholders, I am now confident that NSFAS is ready to kickstart the 2025 online application process – effectively this Friday 20 September,” Nkabane said.
The minister invited all students who were currently sitting for their matric examinations to take the opportunity and apply for either an NSFAS bursary or loan, and extended the invitation to learners from Grades 9, 10 and 11 who intend to enter the TVET sector.
“We are committed to fulfilling what was said in the Freedom Charter and will make sure that no one is left behind, especially the children of the working and the poor in all corners of South Africa,” she said.
The student funding scheme’s application system has gone through several changes and enhancements to ensure a seamless experience for prospective applicants.
The briefing intended to highlight the enhancements, unpack the application process and outline the supporting information required in order to adequately complete the application.
In addition, the NSFAS was expected to host live application activation in nine identified schools across the country, with officials assisting learners and out of school to apply for funding their studies.
The activation at the different sites have also been postponed until the end of the week.
The postponement comes after years of mismanagement at the scheme, necessitating the removal of the entire NSFAS board of directors, the firing of its CEO, a court case against contracted companies, and mounting anger and frustration from beneficiaries.
INSIDE EDUCATION
