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INSIDE EDUCATION REPORTER
WITH the country gripped by anxiety over a national shutdown, the higher education sector has been buoyed by the confirmation that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will increase students living allowances by 10% and back-date it to the beginning of the 2023 academic year.
This follows the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande’s agreement to the proposal that was put before him a few weeks ago.
This further follows consultations and input from the South African Union of Students(SAUS), hosted by Nzimande.
“This is a significant development given the reality that in the past three years, no increment was made on student allowances. This is an effort not only to acknowledge the impact of inflation on students’ livelihoods but a contribution to ease the economic disadvantages suffered by students.”
The final implementation dates of the new amendments will be communicated with institutions this week.
Of the total number of first-time entering students provisionally funded, 532,602 are SASSA beneficiaries – this accounts for 80% of first-time entering students who applied and are funded by NSFAS.
In 2023, 443 617 students have opted to study at universities, while 211,235 students have chosen TVET college as their preferred place to study.
Confirmed funding for universities and TVET College continuing students is 350,014 and 81,281, respectively. NSFAS has improved its systems to enable it to make real-time funding decisions.
INSIDE EDUCATION