Apply now for NSFAS grants to ensure 2024 education funding – Nzimande

Nzimande

Cape Town – The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has initiated the application season for funding for the 2024 academic year, with the deadline set for January 31.

According to Times Live, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, said that NSFAS has been working to improve its application processes and ensure faster funding decisions for the upcoming year.

“The reason for this is due to our improved third party relations. These third parties include Sassa, Sars and the department of home affairs. They will be providing NSFAS with information to verify what the student would have declared in the application.

“The only time supporting documents will be required, is when prompted by NSFAS in case where they cannot verify the parental relationship. Communication will be sent directly by NSFAS to a student to initiate this process,” the report quoted Nzimande as saying.

Notably, supporting documents will not be required at the time of application due to enhanced third-party relations with entities such as Sassa, Sars, and the Department of Home Affairs, he said.

The minister said that the application period for NSFAS would span two months, concluding on January 31, 2024, EWN reported.

“We urge students to apply for NSFAS. That’s their future. The ones who qualify, and no one must be misled into not applying. The only way to access NSFAS is through applying,” he said.

Since 1991, NSFAS funding has grown significantly, from R21.4 million to almost R48 billion, supporting students from working-class and low-income backgrounds in public universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.

Currently, NSFAS is funding 1.6 million students in the current financial year.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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