NSFAS Faces Issues Which Cause Student Protests Once Again.A Crisis in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.In recent times, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been plagued by a series of challenges and setbacks. These issues have instilled a sense of fear among students, who increasingly question the reliability and sustainability of the crucial financial aid scheme they are compelled to depend on.Check NSFAS Application Status 2023-2024
NSFAS Faces Issues Which Cause Student Protests Once Again-Persistent Challenges with NSFAS
Since its inception, NSFAS has provided financial assistance to millions of financially disadvantaged students, enabling them to pursue higher education. However, the organization and its students have encountered numerous obstacles along the way, leading to a growing sense of uncertainty.
2023: A Year of Mounting Challenges
The 2023 academic year has brought forth a multitude of difficulties for students receiving NSFAS funding. From extensive delays in application processing to a severe shortage of student accommodations, students have been faced with unrelenting challenges.
Troubles with the New Payment System
One of the recent hurdles is the introduction of a new payment system for NSFAS allowances. This new method has faced significant criticism, with student unions and stakeholders expressing concerns that have manifested in mass protests at public universities and TVET colleges.
Students argue that this new payment system has resulted in high bank charges, further burdening them financially. With already limited allowances, these additional fees render many students unable to cover their basic expenses.
Reportedly, 15% of NSFAS allowances are being consumed by bank charges, a staggering amount that significantly affects students’ ability to manage their funds.
Although NSFAS initially promised that students would only face a monthly charge of R12, some students report being charged R29 each month. Moreover, exceeding the permitted number of withdrawals incurs additional charges.
Moreover, students have encountered challenges with the onboarding process for the new payment system. They have struggled to find support when facing issues, and the Ezaga app, which facilitates the system, has been deemed user-unfriendly.
NSFAS has acknowledged these complaints and assured that an investigation is underway, promising appropriate action in response.
Defunding of Students Raises Concerns
NSFAS previously stated that any student found to have provided false information to obtain funding would be defunded immediately. However, many students argue that they have been unjustly defunded, leading to the loss of their residence spaces.
Students claim that their approval status was abruptly changed to “rejected,” and their funding was abruptly terminated in May. This is part of NSFAS’ remedial process to prevent the allocation of funds to ineligible students.
This action follows the discovery that NSFAS had allocated over R5 billion to more than 40,000 students who did not meet the eligibility criteria.
The President of the South African Student Congress (SASCO), Vezinhlanhla Simelane, highlights that students are often defunded based on their parents’ income exceeding the annual household threshold. This poses a significant problem for students who do not have a relationship with or knowledge of their parents, yet official records suggest otherwise.
Simelane argues that NSFAS must establish a fair process to determine eligibility, accurately assessing students’ circumstances.
Delays in NSFAS Allowance Disbursement
Disturbingly, a significant number of NSFAS-funded students have yet to receive their allowances for June and July, particularly meal allowances. Allegedly, more than half of these students are affected by the delay.
SASCO demands an immediate halt to all academic activities until the allowance disbursement issue is resolved, highlighting that students cannot be expected to concentrate on their studies without sufficient funds for sustenance.
Protests have erupted at various tertiary institutions, notably Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), as students voice their grievances.
SASCO believes that protests and disruptions to academic programs have become necessary tools to garner attention and prompt responses from the government and other organizations. Traditional boardroom discussions have proven to be ineffective in addressing these issues.
They emphasize that NSFAS appears to be failing in its duty to provide access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students, particularly those from the working class.
A Bleak Outlook
The prevailing sentiment among students is that the future of NSFAS looks increasingly uncertain. The persistence of these challenges, along with the organization’s inability to fulfill its mandate effectively, raises doubts about its long-term viability and its ability to support those in need of higher education opportunities.