NSFAS Applicants’ Guides 2023
Collaborations between student bodies, higher education, and institutional management are essential. A meeting was held by the student body and other relevant stakeholders that will have an impact on NSFAS-funded students. However, the body is still waiting for the Scheme to officially publish the updated policies and guidelines.
Student Union Awaits New Guidelines From NSFAS
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the South African Union of Students (SAUS) had recently met.
SAUS had hoped for the department to at least deliver on some of its commitments such as the finalization of the NSFAS funding guidelines and the conclusion of the Vaccination guidelines for institutions.
SAUS had released a statement in November 2021, that strongly rejected the then-proposed NSFAS guidelines for funding.
Below are the then proposed guidelines:
- Continuing students should pass 75% of their modules
- N+ Rule
- No increment on allowances
- Standardisation of Private Accommodation Allowance
Thereafter, NSFAS started a process of consultation towards reviewing their funding policy and guidelines.
Conclusions are said to have been made through various inputs from stakeholders across the Higher Education sector.
In a statement, SAUS spokesperson Asive Dlanjwa said:
They submitted the guidelines to the Department for finalization and approval, to date, the minister and his collective still haven’t published the guidelines.
Dlanjwa further said that those guidelines still hang the question on the previous guidelines and policies on funding that had been proposed last year.
The student union has complained that the department does not feel it is appropriate to release the guidelines, which provide institutions and student representatives with clarity regarding NSFAS funding for the year, as the registration period for universities and TVET colleges draws to a close.
