NSFAS ends funding for more than 5 000 students
A total of 5 000 students who were funded for the 2020 academic year have been recently unfunded. Picture: Tracey Adams/AfricanNewsAgency (ANA).
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) ceased funding for more than 5 000 students for the 2020 academic year. This came after it found that their parents earned above the eligible threshold.
Recent financial information obtained from the South African Revenue Services (SARS) has revealed that these students’ declared total household family income was above the R350 000 threshold.
“A total of 5 000 students who were funded for the 2020 academic year have been recently unfunded. A recent financial information obtained from SARS has revealed that these students declared total household family income was above the R350 000 threshold.
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“The affected students will have 14 days from the date of issue to petition this decision by submitting proof of family income or change of income to NSFAS for review.
“The documents need to be submitted to [email protected],” NSFAS administrator Dr Randall Carolissen said in a statement.
According to our sister publication, IOL, the R350 000 per annum threshold, which means both parents cannot earn above R29 166 per month, has led to angry reactions from students who feel the threshold is too low and does not take into consideration that parents support more than one child.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, had officially opened the NSFAS 2021 Application cycle, on August 3.
“In the current academic year, NSFAS has funded over 700 000 students; 248 242 at TVET colleges and 481 339 at universities (students with registrations data).
“This is a 20% increase from the previous year when we compared registration data received in the same period 2019 versus 2020, said Nzimande.
