Question NW606 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training

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24 April 2017 - NW606

Profile picture: Bozzoli, Prof B

Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(a) What is the total number of students who (i) applied for and (ii) received funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for the (aa) 2013, (bb) 2014, (cc) 2015, (dd) 2016 and (ee) 2017 academic years and (b) of those, how many were funded at (i) universities and (ii) technical and vocational education and training colleges?

Reply:

a) According to the information provided by the NSFAS, Table 1 below provides the total number of students who (a) applied for and (b) received funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for the (aa) 2013, (bb) 2014, (cc) 2015 and (dd) 2016 academic years at (i) universities and (ii) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

Table 1

Year

(i) Universities

(ii) TVET Colleges

 

(a) Applications received

(b) Number of students funded

(a) Applications received

(b) Number of students funded

(aa) 2013 (audited)

This information is not available at NSFAS as during these years, applications were managed by institutions who were not on the NSFAS Central Application System.

194 923

This information is not available at NSFAS as during these years, applications were managed by institutions who were not on the NSFAS Central Application System.

220 978

(bb) 2014 (audited)

 

186 150

 

228 642

(cc) 2015 (audited)

 

178 961

 

235 988

(dd) 2016 (unaudited)

 

244 488

 

225 864

Table 2 below provides the total number of students who as at 20 March 2017 had (a) applied for and (b) received funding from NSFAS for the (ee) 2017 academic year at (i) universities and (ii) TVET colleges. It must be noted that these applications refer to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) loan fund (at universities) and DHET bursary fund (at TVET colleges). NSFAS is still making funding decisions and these numbers are expected to increase. In addition, these numbers do not include applications to other funds, e.g. Funza Lushaka; Social Development; National Skills Fund Scarce Skills Fund, etc., as these applications are managed through a different process.

Table 2

(ee) 2017

(i) Universities

(ii) TVET Colleges

 

(a) Applications received

(b) Number of students funded

(a) Applications received

(b) Number of students funded

2017 First Time Entrants - unaudited

225 753

78 413

118 538

27 020

2017 Returning Students - unaudited

190 502

115 940

182 684

96 312

The entity staff will work overtime, on weekends and public holidays, to ensure that the funding decisions and appeals are finalised. NSFAS has employed additional resources to expedite the process and are currently running two shifts.

Currently, university funding decisions were concluded on 31 March 2017 and TVET College funding decisions will be concluded in April 2017.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT: 021 763 3200

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 606 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

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