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NSFAS Students Cannot Register For 2024

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NSFAS Students Cannot Register For 2024

NSFAS Students Cannot Register For 2024. More than a million students anticipate funding from NSFAS in the upcoming academic year, but concerns linger as unresolved challenges from 2023 impact their ability to register.

SAUS Accuses NSFAS of Failing Students

The South African Union of Students (SAUS) criticizes NSFAS for its alleged failure to fulfill commitments, citing ongoing administrative challenges and outstanding allowance payments from the previous year.

Minister Nzimande Urges Swift Resolution

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande acknowledges the challenges faced by students due to unpaid allowances and calls on NSFAS to expedite the disbursement process, emphasizing the importance of not hindering students’ registrations for the 2024 academic year.

Concerns and Criticisms

SAUS, represented by Lukhanyo Daweti, accuses NSFAS of failing in its commitment to students, pointing to persistent challenges in scheme administration and outstanding allowances from the previous year. The union expresses concern that the delay in allowance disbursement is affecting the registration of thousands of students for the current academic year.

Ministerial Call to Action

Minister Nzimande addresses the challenges faced by students due to unpaid allowances and urges NSFAS to work collaboratively with institutions to promptly resolve outstanding cases. He emphasizes the need for institutions not to deny NSFAS-funded students with outstanding payments the opportunity to register for the current cycle.

SAUS Engagement and Deadline Setback

Daweti reveals that SAUS has been engaging with NSFAS since November of the previous year, raising concerns about payment issues. The initially set deadline for issue resolution, 15 January 2024, faced setbacks as reports indicated a lack of collaboration between educational institutions, causing additional delays in resolving allowance-related problems.

NSFAS Confirmation and Resolution Efforts

NSFAS confirms that out of the 20,000 outstanding allowances, 9,128 have been successfully resolved, with the remaining 11,000 prioritized for processing as part of the standard 2024 disbursement procedure. The confirmation addresses the concerns raised by SAUS regarding the pending allowances affecting student registrations.

Secretary-General Call for Clarity

The Secretary-General emphasizes the need for Minister Nzimande to address challenges and provide clarity on missing middle funding, gender-based violence within institutions, and support for postgraduate funding.

FAQs About NSFAS Students 

Q 1: What is the main concern raised by SAUS regarding NSFAS in 2024?

Ans: SAUS is concerned that thousands of students have not received allowances from the previous year, impacting their ability to register for the current academic year.

Q 2: How many outstanding allowances has NSFAS successfully resolved, and what is the plan for the remaining cases?

Ans: NSFAS has confirmed the resolution of 9,128 out of 20,000 outstanding allowances. The remaining 11,000 are prioritized for processing as part of the standard 2024 disbursement procedure.

Q 3: What are the Secretary-General’s key concerns beyond NSFAS allowance issues?

Ans: The Secretary-General emphasizes the need for Minister Nzimande to address missing middle funding, gender-based violence within institutions, and support for postgraduate funding.

Conclusion

The ongoing challenges faced by NSFAS students in 2024 highlight the critical need for swift resolutions to allowance disbursement issues. Minister Nzimande’s call for collaboration and the confirmation of resolved cases by NSFAS offer hope for affected students. However, persistent engagement and a collective effort are essential to ensuring uninterrupted access to education for all deserving students.

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