NSFAS has rejected nearly 10,000 students for aid in 2017
The financial aid scheme expects the number of funded students to grow, as some universities are still completing 2016’s exams owing to Fees Must Fall protests
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has funded 175,348 students for the 2017 financial year so far — compared to about 200,000 students funded in 2016 and 194,923 students in 2013. NSFAS is still expecting the number of funded students to grow as some universities were still completing last year’s examinations owing to disruptions caused by Fees Must Fall protests in the second semester of 2016. At least 9,976 applicants for financial aid were unsuccessful in 2017, the scheme said in a statement on Thursday. In January the Department of Higher Education and Training announced that 205,000 first-time and returning students at universities and 200,000 students at technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges would be funded in 2017 through a R15.2bn fund for student loans and bursaries. NSFAS has been the central funder for needy university students in SA, a role which that has been expanded in the wake of protests for funding. Finance Minister Pravin G...
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