The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has revealed that 39 public higher education institutions will participate in the student accommodation pilot project in 2024. This comes after successful engagements with several institutions.
NSFAS provides comprehensive bursaries to students at public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in South Africa. More than one million students are receiving funding from the bursary scheme.
The funding includes money for tuition and registration fees as well as money for meals and stationery. Students also receive a monthly accommodation allowance.
NSFAS wants to ensure that students live in accommodation that is conducive to their studies. They acknowledge that this will only be possible with the help of the institutions.
The financial aid scheme launched the Student Accommodation Pilot project which is aimed at ensuring NSFAS only pays for student accommodation that is conducive to studying and prevents students from living in inappropriate housing.
They recently conducted successful engagements with the management of Vaal University of Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, and Sedibeng TVET College as part of the NSFAS Student Accommodation Pilot Project in 2024.
Meetings were held in December with additional sessions planned at Tshwane North and Tshwane South TVET Colleges next week. The NSFAS Board, chaired by Mr. Ernest Khosa, decided to include 19 more TVET Colleges, bringing the total to 22 TVET Colleges and 17 Universities for the 2024 pilot project.
The engagements are part of NSFAS preparations for the 2024 academic year, focusing on the accreditation of Private Accommodation Providers and managing accommodation for NSFAS-funded students.
The Board expressed satisfaction with the discussions and anticipates equally progressive meetings with other identified institutions. Subsequent consultations will involve technical teams from NSFAS and the institutions to finalise operational matters.
Four Solution Partners have been appointed by NSFAS to conduct accreditation for properties applying on the NSFAS accommodation platform.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Blade Nzimande also directed institutions not to enter into long-term lease agreements with private accommodation providers, ensuring the smooth progress of NSFAS accommodation processes.
NSFAS expressed gratitude to the councils and management of institutions for their swift response and prioritisation of private accommodation provider accreditation. The Board has encouraged all Private Accommodation Providers to apply for accreditation to offer student accommodation for NSFAS beneficiaries.
