Government increases aid to National Student Financial Aid Scheme students

Students funded by the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) received special attention during the address as government reaffirmed its intentions to use National Student Financial Aid Scheme as its primary channel of financial distribution.

“National Student Financial Aid Scheme has been allocated over R718 million for full bursaries for scarce and critical skills for the current year from the NSF.” ,said Nzimande.
National Student Financial Aid Scheme Students will also be eager to note that the Department of Higher Education Training (DHET) has made arrangements to pay the registration fees for all National Student Financial Aid Scheme funded students in January each year.
“National Student Financial Aid Scheme qualifying students will not pay any registration or upfront fees in 2018 ” ,he said.
Every year frustrations over registration fees spark a new round of students protests but the DHET’s plan to settle this initial cost is expected to prevent the recurring problem.
“In addition, National Student Financial Aid Scheme has earmarked R76.6 million in the 2018 academic year to provide financial aid to disabled students in universities.”
Nzimande noted that government had also addressed the issue of historical debt of National Student Financial Aid Scheme qualifying students.
“All National Student Financial Aid Scheme qualifying students who were registered in 2016, and were successful in their studies, but who have accumulated historical student debt with institutions of higher education, will be allowed to register in 2018.”

Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana, and Minister Blade Nzimande discuss the way forward