The 2023 academic year has been off to a rocky start, with higher learning institutions battling protests, student accommodation issues, financial aid challenges and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) delays.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has revealed its plans to prevent any further delays and ensure that NSFAS funded students can register in time.
There are a number of factors that have contributed to delays in the university registration process, including the following:
- The late closure of NSFAS applications - 31 January 2023
- The large increase in the number of first-time entering applications
- NSFAS system challenges
At the start of each academic year, the DHET visits the public universities in the country to evaluate the state of readiness regarding registration, admissions and funding, as well as any other possible challenges the university may be experiencing.
The Department reports that 26 universities were closely monitored to establish whether or not they were ready for the 2023 registration cycle. These visits allowed the Department to engage with universities and various student leaders as well as NSFAS to deal with any issues, including the delay in NSFAS funding decisions.
On 22 February 2023, NSFAS reported to the Portfolio Committee that 1 084 574 students had been provisionally funded at universities and TVET Colleges.
Confirmed funding for universities was 350,014 and TVET Colleges was 81,281 where registration data is received. The exchange of registration data between NSFAS and various institutions is still ongoing.
NSFAS extended the deadline for appeals to 28 February 2023 in order to accommodate students that were still being evaluated by the bursary scheme.
Universities have put a number of processes in place to allow funded students to register;
- Some universities allowed provisionally funded students to register while still awaiting the official funded list from NSFAS.
- Some universities allowed for an extension to accommodate the delayed release of matric results, delayed NSFAS funding decisions and minimum payments for registrations.
- Some universities adjusted orientation schedules to accommodate students who were registering late as well as to ensure that students who needed an extension were able to register on time.
- A large percentage of universities use online registration processes, while some also allow for face-to-face registration and on-campus assistance.
- Some universities allowed students to sign Acknowledgement of Debt (AOD) forms so that they could access the start of the academic year and register on time.
Many students were prevented from completing their 2023 registration due to student debt, while others were still awaiting final funding decisions from NSFAS.
These challenges resulted in students missing the start of the academic year, while others were not able to register at all as they missed their institution's registration deadlines.
Some had their university spaces given up to other students, even after they had been deservingly accepted into the institution.
