The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is reviewing the courses that they fund for students who are studying at university. Until now they have paid a full bursary including course fees, living expenses and study expenses for nearly all first degrees at university. The bursary does not have to be paid back since the new system was introduced by then-President Jacob Zuma in 2017.
With the cuts to national government budgets last year it was foreshadowed by Minister Blade Nzimande that there would be less money available to NSFAS this year. He has also been placing closer scrutiny on Unisa which has also seen a significant increase in younger students since the NSFAS funding model was expanded.
Business Day newspaper reported on Monday that a circular had been sent to all universities by NSFAS informing them that funding would not be provided in this academic year for a range of courses. A representative from NSFAS confirmed to the newspaper that the circular is correct.
The course that will not be funded in 2021 include all BTECH programmes, B Ed courses, B Curr courses, legacy 2- year diplomas, NQF level 8 qualifications - and any course with the word 'National' in the title.
While the circular, which is dated 12th February 2021, states that funding for the above will not be given it also says that funding for post graduate qualifications is being reconsidered.
Update:
In a response from NSFAS released on Monday they stated that the qualifications listed in the circular are 'legacy qualifications', meaning courses that are being phased out. Students who have already started studying those qualifications will be able to complete them. If they have been funded by NSFAS this will continue. However new students should not be enrolled onto those courses.
The B Ed degree will continue and will still be funded by NSFAS but is now at level 7 on the National Qualifications Framework rather than level 8. The B Cur in nursing is replaced by the Bachelor in Nursing - and will also be funded by NSFAS.
This article was updated on the 23/02/2021 to include clarification from NSFAS.
