The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government bursary that is available to underprivileged South African students who are looking to study at a public university or TVET College.
They provide students with funding for registration, tuition and allowances. These allowances cover transport, living expenses and learning materials.
Recently due to Covid-19 there has been a high demand for laptops for students to make use of as majority of the learning at tertiary institutions is taking place online. In 2020 NSFAS had promised students that they would be receiving laptops from the bursary but many delays took place during that year and now the laptops can only be expected in April 2021.
In March Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande announced that NSFAS laptop deliveries will commence in April after the South African Union of Students (SAUS) demanded that "Laptops must be provided to students as the academic year starts".
NSFAS announced that it would be receiving its first batch of laptops today and urged NSFAS funded students to order their laptops on the NSFAS website as the rollout process will commence soon.
If you haven't ordered your laptop yet, here's how:
- Visit the NSFAS website here
- Click myNSFAS
- Click the Online Order portal to place an order.
You will need the following information when placing your laptop order:
- South African ID number;
- Student number, Contact details;
- Name of the institution they are registered at; and
- Campus name and home address.
The South African Students Congress' (SASCO) spokesperson Luvuyo Barnes encouraged NSFAS beneficiaries to place their orders as soon as possible so that they avoid any delays.
SAUS President, Misheck Mugabe said that the student union welcomed the current developments regarding the arrival of the laptops students had waited so long for. Mugabe said that the union would be monitoring the situation to ensure that students receive the laptops as expected.
Students who are not funded by NSFAS but require laptops have been urged to consult their institutions regarding this. NSFAS Chief Corporate Services Officer, Sibongile Mncwabe said these students will have to enter into a payment agreement with their institution for the needed device.
NSFAS FUNDED STUDENTS CAN NOW ORDER LATOPS ONLINE pic.twitter.com/yeBjG743rX
— NSFAS (@myNSFAS) April 13, 2021
