Question NW838 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
04 May 2022 - NW838
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
What total number of students (a) are registered at each technical and vocational education and training college (TVET) in the Republic, (b) are studying for their (i) undergraduate studies and (ii) post-graduate diplomas, (c) are (i) funded through the National Students Financial Aid Scheme and (ii) are not funded and/or pay for their own fees and (d) from international countries are studying at each specified TVET college?
Reply:
(c)(i) 300,000 TVET colleges students are targeted to receive bursary funding through the National Students Financial Aid Scheme during the 2022 academic year;
(ii) The processing of student applications for NSFAS is still underway and as such the number of unfunded students is not available at this juncture. However, on average 98% of first-time NSFAS applicants in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges qualify for bursaries and do not pay tuition fees. This means that about 2% of first-time NSFAS applicants and NSFAS returning students who do not qualify for bursary funding on the basis of academic performance are the ones who are not funded and as such they are required pay for their own fees.