NSFAS awards funding to thousands of students every year. There are, however, some students who are turned away because they do not meet the funding criteria.
NSFAS Sticks To Its Funding Threshold Criteria
A government bursary under the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is available to students whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per year, while a student with a disability must have a household income of not more than R600 000 per year.
According to NSFAS spokesperson Slumezi Skosana
At this moment, the government bursary scheme does not have a compromise on the household income threshold and students who fall above it will not receive funding.
This is one of the reasons why some students were not approved for funding for the 2023 academic year. However, students may appeal the decision.These cases are reviewed by the Independent Appeals Tribunal, and if they exceed the income threshold, they will not be considered for funding.
Higher Education and its stakeholders are urged to find a funding model that will benefit this group of students.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is developing a comprehensive student funding model to benefit missing middle school students, according to Skosana.The government should explore creating a loan scheme to support “missing middle” students in accessing higher education and training as part of the long-term development of a comprehensive student funding policy, according to Dr Thandi Lewin, Acting Deputy Director-General for Universities, Education and Training at DHET.
In addition, Dr. Blade Nzimande reaffirmed that the department is currently working within the policy framework in order to provide loans and bursaries to students with scarce skills.