Naledi Pandor defends students fund scheme
The Science and Technology Minister says scarce skills need to be incentivised
Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor has defended the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) as a viable instrument for financial aid and proposed ring-fenced, full funds for science, engineering and artisans to attract and retain young people in these fields. Pandor appeared before the Fees Commission in Pretoria on Wednesday in her capacity as the chair of the ANC national executive committee (NEC) sub-committee on education, health, science and technology. "We would like greater support to the provider to students in higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. Those who can contribute should, but the poor should not have to be made to meet the costs of higher education," she said. Pandor said R60bn in loans and bursaries had been made available for needy students from all races, which saw student enrolments in higher education up to more than a million in 2015, up from 495,348 in 1994. TVET enrolments also went up three-f...
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