The National Students’ Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has made more than R2-billion available to help clear student debt at universities across the country.
In addition, Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle announced yesterday his government had also set aside an additional R16.3-million for “missing middle students” – those whose parents were teachers and police officers and did not qualify for NSFAS – studying in four Eastern Cape based universities.
These are the University of Fort Hare (UFH), Rhodes University, Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).
Masualle met with vice-chancellors from the universities in East London. Present at yesterday’s media briefing where Masualle made the announcement were WSU interim vice-chancellor Professor Khaya Mfenyana, UFH deputy VC academic Professor Larry Obi and Rhodes University VC Dr Sizwe Mabizela.
Masualle said: “We must face the reality that university education has got to be funded. And those that can afford, must be able to pay to the extent that we are looking into those who are struggling.
“What we are avoiding is to ensure that no one gets excluded financially. Our main concern are those students who are called the ’missing middle’. The national government has committed to help these students.”
Mfenyana said the R178-million owed to WSU “will be covered in full by what we are getting from the departmental intervention, what we got here from the premier today, and what NSFAS has to offer.”
Obi said although Fort Hare could not quantify its historical debt, the “intervention from both government and the make up for shortfalls from NSFAS for the period between 2013 an 2015, will take us somewhere, definitely”.
In a statement yesterday, NSFAS announced that R2.543-billion would assist 71753 students who were either under-funded or partially funded between 2013 and 2015. Other details released included that:
The funding will be made available to students as interest-free loans but would be later converted to bursaries if the student performed well in terms of NSFAS guidelines;
The universities will also submit interest-free claims;
Forms had been sent to universities for students to fill in so the claims could be processed;
Payments would be made whether the students were still studying, had dropped out or graduated within the stipulated academic years.
The announcement comes amid fears from universities of financial instability if outstanding debt was scrapped without being paid.
This week, NMMU said it was owed R7.065-million by 764 students in 2013; R13.072-million by 1205 students in 2014; and R52.146-million by 5809 students last year.
Rhodes said it was owed R19-million by 898 students in 2013 and 2014 while 2600 students owed R43.8-million from last year.
Also addressing the media yesterday, Mabizela called on parents who could afford to pay for higher education to do so.
He called on students not to resort to violence. “There is no need to resort to violence and destruction of property. What happened last year– property was destroyed and that was quantified to about R150-million.
“Can you imagine how many more students could have been helped with that R150-million?
R2bn student debt bail-out
In addition, Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle announced yesterday his government had also set aside an additional R16.3-million for “missing middle students” – those whose parents were teachers and police officers and did not qualify for NSFAS – studying in four Eastern Cape based universities.
These are the University of Fort Hare (UFH), Rhodes University, Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).
Masualle met with vice-chancellors from the universities in East London. Present at yesterday’s media briefing where Masualle made the announcement were WSU interim vice-chancellor Professor Khaya Mfenyana, UFH deputy VC academic Professor Larry Obi and Rhodes University VC Dr Sizwe Mabizela.
Masualle said: “We must face the reality that university education has got to be funded. And those that can afford, must be able to pay to the extent that we are looking into those who are struggling.
“What we are avoiding is to ensure that no one gets excluded financially. Our main concern are those students who are called the ’missing middle’. The national government has committed to help these students.”
Mfenyana said the R178-million owed to WSU “will be covered in full by what we are getting from the departmental intervention, what we got here from the premier today, and what NSFAS has to offer.”
Obi said although Fort Hare could not quantify its historical debt, the “intervention from both government and the make up for shortfalls from NSFAS for the period between 2013 an 2015, will take us somewhere, definitely”.
In a statement yesterday, NSFAS announced that R2.543-billion would assist 71753 students who were either under-funded or partially funded between 2013 and 2015. Other details released included that:
The funding will be made available to students as interest-free loans but would be later converted to bursaries if the student performed well in terms of NSFAS guidelines;
The universities will also submit interest-free claims;
Forms had been sent to universities for students to fill in so the claims could be processed;
Payments would be made whether the students were still studying, had dropped out or graduated within the stipulated academic years.
The announcement comes amid fears from universities of financial instability if outstanding debt was scrapped without being paid.
This week, NMMU said it was owed R7.065-million by 764 students in 2013; R13.072-million by 1205 students in 2014; and R52.146-million by 5809 students last year.
Rhodes said it was owed R19-million by 898 students in 2013 and 2014 while 2600 students owed R43.8-million from last year.
Also addressing the media yesterday, Mabizela called on parents who could afford to pay for higher education to do so.
He called on students not to resort to violence. “There is no need to resort to violence and destruction of property. What happened last year– property was destroyed and that was quantified to about R150-million.
“Can you imagine how many more students could have been helped with that R150-million?
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