Despite the commencement of the academic year more than two months ago, students at the uMfolozi TVET College in Eshowe have not received their allowances from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
The students are calling on the Higher education Minister Blade Nzimande to address these challenges.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries which enable students from poor and working-class backgrounds to obtain an undergraduate qualification. Students funded by NSFAS also receive allowances to cover accommodation costs, stationery costs and upkeep costs.
Students at the KwaZulu-Natal college raised their concerns after a full term had passed without receiving any funding from NSFAS. SRC president Zulungisele Zulu says students are leaving the campus as they do not know where they will stay.
Minister Nzimande explained that several challenges have delayed the process of NSFAS paying allowances to students. These challenges include the late release of matric results and late applications.
Nzimande revealed that NSFAS representatives have been deployed to institutions of higher learning around the country to assist students. They added that if the representatives cannot resolve the issues, the minister will personally contact senior NSFAS officials to find a solution.
We've got NSFAS representatives in every institution who are actually dealing with those kinds of problems
Nzimande announced that the government will spend R3 billion over the next three years to address student accommodation issues. This will include signing off-take agreements with accommodation providers.
