Student aid scheme worried it has to cater for the ‘missing middle’ in 2018
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has told MPs that it could encounter difficulties if President Jacob Zuma decides it should also cater for the "missing middle" in the 2018 academic year. This is according to the NSFAS CEO‚ Steven Zwane‚ who was briefing Parliament’s select committee on education on their state of readiness for the next financial year. Zwane said NSFAS was ready to provide financial assistance to the usual number of financially needy students and told MPs that, so far, the scheme has completed 192‚984 applications for the 2018 year. Of these‚ the vast majority are black and female, wanting to attend universities. Only 18‚326 of the completed applications were for Technical and Vocational Education Training colleges (TVETs). On average‚ the NSFAS funds about 500‚000 students a year. Zwane told the committee the fund was ready to disburse money to these new and returning students. However‚ he said should the so-called missing middle be included in its...
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