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By Johnathan Paoli
The administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Freeman Nomvalo, is confident in the scheme’s transformation and improved operations to assist students in achieving tertiary education.
In an interview with Inside Education, following the launch of the NSFAS Online Application platform for 2025 last week, Nomvalo addressed concerns over the functioning of the scheme.
Nomvalo said that pending any decision’s by Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, his job was to ensure that the transition was facilitated smoothly.
He said, through technology, the post-school education and training sector could facilitate the effective access to education.
“It’s absolutely critical, and now it’s creating access to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds to access funding for their education as well as the information that is necessary for them to do so,” he said.
Nomvalo said that the scheme intended to publish information concerning statistics and other concerns to the public on a monthly basis going forward.
On the cancellation of the NSFAS headquarters in Cape Town, where it was paying almost R2 million a month, Nomvalo said things would change.
In light of the need to make the scheme more accessible to students across the country, there was a shift in terms of prioritising the central location of the scheme.
“With the change of operations at NSFAS, we are trying to create accessibility to the students where they are. You do need capacity and access here, so that is the context surrounding that matter,” he said.
This follows Nkabane announcing at the launch that the appointment of the new NSFAS board was nearing completion.
Nkabane said 13 of the 18-member board would be appointed by her, while the remaining five would be selected by board members and the CEO.
She said the application period for board positions has officially closed, with focus now shifting to choosing appropriately qualified candidates.
The minister highlighted the urgent need to acquire skilled individuals to the board and said only candidates with a master’s degree and experience in law, financing, engineering or governance would be considered.
“We want people who are going to bring skills and value to those institutions, and we have upped the bar,” Nkabane said.
The new board is expected to face significant challenges in addressing the scheme’s capacity deficiencies and ensuring effective support for prospective students.
The minister expressed optimism that the appointment of a capable board would assist NSFAS in delivering on its mandate of providing accessible and equitable education.
The NSFAS anticipates over 1,4 million applications for the next academic year.
INSIDE EDUCATION