Online applications for study loans through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are expected to open on Friday, 20 September 2024.
This follows consultations by the new Minister of Higher Education and Training, Nobuhle Nkabane, and student leaders, reports EWN.
[MEDIA ADVISORY]
THE NATIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID SCHEME TO OPEN FUNDING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR pic.twitter.com/Y9EAkTi2JL— NSFAS (@myNSFAS) September 18, 2024
The application process for 2025 NSFAS applications was delayed to allow NSFAS to test the online application system, according to News24.
“Having received presentation during the stakeholder consultations and having noted the comments received from stakeholders, I am confident that NSFAS is ready to kick-start its 2025 application process,” Nkabane said on Monday, 16 September
“Many students have expressed frustration over delayed payments and inefficiencies of NSFAS systems,” she said.
“It was agreed in our engagements that NSFAS is the main factor of instability in our institutions of higher learning. However, this is linked to delays in releasing matric examination results, which then translates in delays in funding decisions,” Nkabane said.
According to a report by the Citizen, the minister said her department wanted to decentralise NSFAS operations and set up regional offices in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, and possibly satellite offices in other provinces.
“This has been a long-standing call of ours,” said Asive Dlanjwa of the SA Union of Students, adding that it should lead to faster funding and turnaround time for appeals and queries.
“A decentralised model will broaden access significantly. This transformative and progressive agenda aims to rectify historical imbalances and improve access for marginalised communities to funding,” he said.
It was reported on Monday that NSFAS was ending its R2.5 million monthly lease on head office in Cape Town’s Foreshore district.
“The plan is to decentralise. We are going to establish regional offices in three provinces, which is the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. We will see how best we can come up with satellite offices in other provinces,” Nkabane said.
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