UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FUNDING
SA not skimping on campus fees, but …
There are overwhelming moral and social grounds for greater assistance to enable poor students to complete their studies, writes Gavin Keeton
The #FeesMustFall protests have highlighted the dire financial situation of many South African students. For years, the government’s subsidy to universities has failed to keep pace with increasing student numbers and the rising costs of their education. As a result, an increased share of the burden has shifted to the fees they must pay. Many students cannot afford them and loans via the government’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to the poorest students are inadequate. Nor are they available for families of modest means, such as those whose breadwinner is a policeman or nurse. For many poor and "missing middle" students, academic progress is disrupted or ended because of their inability to pay fees. The hardship and heartache many students face should not be underestimated. There are overwhelming moral and social grounds for greater assistance to enable poor students with the required academic criteria to complete their studies. There are strong economic reasons too. ...
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