The South Africa Universities Union (Saus) has confirmed that universities are largely prepared for the start of the new academic year this week. However, it has condemned the late release of matric results, which it says causes the National Students Fund Aid Scheme to release funding decisions late (NSFAS).
Saus, which represents student representation councils at the nation’s 26 institutions, has urged NSFAS to release grant application results by February 6, stating that any more delays will not be accepted.
The president of the SAUS, Yandisa Ndzoyiya, has urged the funding program to synchronize its procedures with the announcement of matric results. “Any delays after February 6 will be condemned,” he stated.
The union also acknowledged an increase in NSFAS student allowances, the first since 2018, but stated that it will continue to press for a 10% increase as opposed to the scheme’s 5% increase.
Ndzoyiya stated that the union applauded the scheme’s decision to pay students directly, adding that a central site where approved housing can be accessed will go a long way toward assuring students’ safety and preventing them from falling prey to fraudulent landlords.
“Universities must also address corruption in their institutions where university administrators are also landlords,” he said.
Ndzoyiya also expressed concern about the number of students who will be denied admission to higher education due to a lack of available slots.
278 815 students earned a bachelor’s degree, while 197 357 earned a high school diploma. Dr. Blade Nzimande, minister of higher education, science, and innovation, disclosed last week that there were 208 299 openings for first-year students at universities.
Ndzoyiya lamented the disparity between the demand for university education and universities’ inability to accommodate all qualified students.
“The plan to expand access to higher education institutions through blended learning is complicated by loadshedding,” he said, adding that loadshedding also causes the collapse of students’ enterprises on campus and the loss of companies that offer internships to graduates.
He added that the Department of Higher Education, via its department higher health, must give more attention to gender-based violence and other societal evils.
»Saus requests that the NSFAS release student funding early«