The students who were able to get into tertiary institutions are currently drowning in debt because they do not have the means to cover their tuition fees. Approximately R19 billion has been incurred over the past few years.
The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has requested that the Nsfas bursary household income threshold increase from R350 000 to R600 000. By increasing the household income threshold, many missing middle students will be able to benefit.
The congress wants a revised student funding model to be deliberated on by the African National Congress (ANC).
Nsfas funding still largely relies on the taxation of the working class, which is why SASCO would like a more comprehensive model to allow for more students to benefit. They would also like the funding model not to "yoke the children of the working class in chains and bondages of debt".
Students would also like the government to resist cutting postgraduate funding and increase it dramatically. Postgraduate funding would help many students further their studies and access better career opportunities.
Increasing access to tertiary education will benefit the youth of South Africa as well as the country. These students will be able to greatly increase the economic growth of the country as a result of their education.
