Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has ordered a forensic audit into the state’s massive bursary and loan scheme for tertiary students.
This year, the National Students’ Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) received more than R9-billion from the national fiscus, and yesterday in parliament, both the DA and the EFF gave the ANC government credit for the education access it gives to needy students.
More than 450000 students will benefit from NSFAS funding this year. However, DA MP Belinda Bozzoli and EFF MP Sipho Mbatha both pointed at shortcomings in the system, which were acknowledged by Nzimande.
Briefing the parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education and training, Nzimande announced the forensic audit to look into “collusion, maladministration and corruption” in the NSFAS.
Nzimande, one of a very few cabinet ministers to regularly submit himself to parliamentary oversight, also lifted the veil on a number of problems his department has experienced this year. “One of the problems with the NSFAS is that students believe funding is granted once they have filled out the forms, whereas the funding is only determined later,” Nzimande explained.
Eastern Cape Sasco chairman Buyambo Mantashe welcomed the news of a probe.
“This has been our call. There is an element of corruption and maladministration of NSFAS at these institutions. Some officials are not allocating funds meant for students correctly. It is time for heads to roll on those who have done wrong.”
In recent weeks, students from Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and Buffalo City College have protested over NSFAS shortfalls.
The protests were violent, resulting in the closure of Buffalo City College main campus in East London and three WSU campuses.
This week, students from the University of Fort Hare instructed fellow students to leave class in solidarity with students who must pay 50% of their debt to NSFAS.
PAC student leader Ndiyakholwa Ngqulu hailed the announcement.
“The investigation must start by looking into these institutions where the allocation of funding is actually made. Poor students are suffering because this money is being misused. The committee on higher education and training estimated that R50.1-billion is going to be needed to cover needy students. Right now, there is R9-billion that is also misused and lots of students are unable to get funding.”
Ngqulu said students who benefited despite not being eligible for funding should also be investigated.
DA youth secretary Kabelo Mogatosi said he hoped the announcement was not a political tool but an attempt to resolve issues facing NSFAS.
“What is disappointing though is that the government has not taken responsibility for what happened in universities like Walter Sisulu, Fort Hare, Wits and KwaZulu-Natal.
“We know that there has been misappropriation of NSFAS at some of the institutions.
“Government has not responded to our submission that they should take the R2.5-billion that is going to the national Treasury from the Sector Training and Education Authority and add it to NSFAS.”
The minister announced that a sliding scale in terms of which tertiary funding for parents with more than one child studying at university or TVET college was being considered.
Nzimande announced that some staff at the Lephalale TVET college in Limpopo refused to teach in the afternoon, because they claimed it meant additional work.
“Sometimes there is a thin dividing line between additional time and expected time,” Nzimande argued.
He also referred to problems at the Cape Midlands College, with campuses in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, where 69 staff members were dismissed after taking part in an unprotected strike, calling on trade unions to keep to the legal requirements for strikes.
Nzimande called on parents to consider the diversity of tertiary study opportunities, pointing out that many people were more suited to artisan work rather than university study.
The minister confirmed that government was investigating university costs, especially why some universities’ fees rose by 6% a year while others went up by 12% a year.
State bursary fund probe
This year, the National Students’ Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) received more than R9-billion from the national fiscus, and yesterday in parliament, both the DA and the EFF gave the ANC government credit for the education access it gives to needy students.
More than 450000 students will benefit from NSFAS funding this year. However, DA MP Belinda Bozzoli and EFF MP Sipho Mbatha both pointed at shortcomings in the system, which were acknowledged by Nzimande.
Briefing the parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education and training, Nzimande announced the forensic audit to look into “collusion, maladministration and corruption” in the NSFAS.
Nzimande, one of a very few cabinet ministers to regularly submit himself to parliamentary oversight, also lifted the veil on a number of problems his department has experienced this year. “One of the problems with the NSFAS is that students believe funding is granted once they have filled out the forms, whereas the funding is only determined later,” Nzimande explained.
Eastern Cape Sasco chairman Buyambo Mantashe welcomed the news of a probe.
“This has been our call. There is an element of corruption and maladministration of NSFAS at these institutions. Some officials are not allocating funds meant for students correctly. It is time for heads to roll on those who have done wrong.”
In recent weeks, students from Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and Buffalo City College have protested over NSFAS shortfalls.
The protests were violent, resulting in the closure of Buffalo City College main campus in East London and three WSU campuses.
This week, students from the University of Fort Hare instructed fellow students to leave class in solidarity with students who must pay 50% of their debt to NSFAS.
PAC student leader Ndiyakholwa Ngqulu hailed the announcement.
“The investigation must start by looking into these institutions where the allocation of funding is actually made. Poor students are suffering because this money is being misused. The committee on higher education and training estimated that R50.1-billion is going to be needed to cover needy students. Right now, there is R9-billion that is also misused and lots of students are unable to get funding.”
Ngqulu said students who benefited despite not being eligible for funding should also be investigated.
DA youth secretary Kabelo Mogatosi said he hoped the announcement was not a political tool but an attempt to resolve issues facing NSFAS.
“What is disappointing though is that the government has not taken responsibility for what happened in universities like Walter Sisulu, Fort Hare, Wits and KwaZulu-Natal.
“We know that there has been misappropriation of NSFAS at some of the institutions.
“Government has not responded to our submission that they should take the R2.5-billion that is going to the national Treasury from the Sector Training and Education Authority and add it to NSFAS.”
The minister announced that a sliding scale in terms of which tertiary funding for parents with more than one child studying at university or TVET college was being considered.
Nzimande announced that some staff at the Lephalale TVET college in Limpopo refused to teach in the afternoon, because they claimed it meant additional work.
“Sometimes there is a thin dividing line between additional time and expected time,” Nzimande argued.
He also referred to problems at the Cape Midlands College, with campuses in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, where 69 staff members were dismissed after taking part in an unprotected strike, calling on trade unions to keep to the legal requirements for strikes.
Nzimande called on parents to consider the diversity of tertiary study opportunities, pointing out that many people were more suited to artisan work rather than university study.
The minister confirmed that government was investigating university costs, especially why some universities’ fees rose by 6% a year while others went up by 12% a year.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos