Question NW1389 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
19 June 2017 - NW1389
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
With regard to the total number of students receiving funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in the 2016 academic year, what is the reason for the discrepancy between the figure of total number of students stated in his reply to question 606 on 24 April 2017 as 470 352, and the figure of 405 000 quoted by a certain person (name and details furnished) during a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on 3 May 2017?
Reply:
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provided the Department on 4 April 2017 with unaudited data for the 2016 academic year. The unaudited 470 352 NSFAS funded students consisted of 244 488 university and 225 864 Technical and Vocational Education and Training college students as stated in my response to Parliamentary Question 606. Audited 2016 numbers will be submitted upon completion of the external 2016/17 audit process currently underway at NSFAS.
The 405 000 students mentioned by the NSFAS Chairperson refers to the Medium Term Strategic Framework 2016 targeted number of students to be funded.
The difference between the targeted number of students and unaudited funded students is due to the additional allocation NSFAS received for historic debt funding during the 2016 academic year.
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DIRECTOR – GENERAL
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QUESTION 1389 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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