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Is Blade blunting NSFAS?
Applications for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) officially opened in November of last year, before closing at the end of January.
Two-and-a-half months after applications closed, many students are still left in limbo, unable to fulfil their dream of getting a degree or diploma to assist them in finding a way out of poverty.
Many have been told they've been rejected, even though they've met the threshold. Some have been told a glitch in the system erroneously claimed their parents were unverified, but beyond lodging an appeal and resending documents, there has been no further communication from NSFAS.
Others have been forced to find anywhere to sleep, even if it's a university computer lab, because they have been waiting to hear whether they've been successful with their funding application.
In some cases, lecturers have reportedly allowed students to write tests in case they are able to register later, if their funding comes through. It's a nightmare situation and one that demands accountability.
Instead, NSFAS is in a no better state than it was six years ago, when it was first placed under administration in 2018.
In this week's Friday Briefing, News24's education reporter, Prega Govender, takes an in-depth look at calls for Blade Nzimande to step down in the face of the ongoing crisis, which saw the minister dissolve the NSFAS board and appoint yet another administrator.
We also bring you the stories of 15 affected students, who detail how frustrated they are with the current situation.
Ahmed Essop, who is a research associate at the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies at the University of Johannesburg, gives us his analysis of the situation. He writes that a lack of accountability, from both the board and the minister, is at the centre of the NSFAS crisis.
Finally, we have a submission from Dr Phethiwe Matutu, the chief executive officer of Universities South Africa, who breaks down some of the issues universities have with the NSFAS, and what needs to happen for the problem to be resolved.
It's an important issue, on which rests the future of nearly 1.3 million students.
We hope this week's edition of Friday Briefing gives you more insight into what needs to happen at NSFAS to ensure it is fully functional, rather than leaving thousands of students unable to access tertiary education to better their lives.
Best,
Vanessa Banton
Opinions editor
The question that has been swirling around together with a clarion call for Blade Nzimande to resign in the face of the ongoing NSFAS crisis is what has the minister being doing while a rudderless NSFAS ran aground in stormy seas under his watch, writes Prega Govender.
‘Dread and despair’: 15 students speak out about their nightmare struggles with NSFAS
Fulfilling their dreams of getting degrees or diplomas has been marred by uncertainty and anxiety as they wait to hear whether they have received funding or not. News24 publishes the stories of 15 affected students.
Six years after the first NSFAS administrator was appointed, the scheme appears to still be plagued by the same issues that put it under its firmm. Ahmed Essop reflects on who should be held accountable for the mess.
Empowering NSFAS: A path to resolving student financial aid crisis
The deep-rooted problems of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme can be resolved if its administrator is provided with the necessary support in resolving them, writes Phethiwe Matutu.
