NSFAS receives over 400 000 applications for 2019
Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has received more than 400 000 funding applications for the 2019 financial year.
Pandor said this when she briefed the media in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The briefing comes after applications for funding for the 2019 academic year closed on 3 December following a two-day extension from the 30 November 2018 deadline.
“As we prepare for next year, the 2019 application cycle has proceeded relatively smoothly with more than 400 000 applications received between the opening of applications on the 3rd September and the closing of applications on the 3rd of December,” she said.
READ: Over 200 000 NSFAS students approved
Pandor said on average, NSFAS received more than 3 200 applications a day over the period from September to December, with the number reaching as high as 30 000 on one of the days.
Out of all the applications, 63% were females while males made up 37% of the applications.
A total of 34 413 applications were received from social grant beneficiaries. Students who are beneficiaries of the South Africa Social Security Agency automatically qualify in terms of the financial qualification criteria and will be funded if admitted and registered at a TVET college or university.
READ: NSFAS to help 1800 learners with online applications for 2019
“However, it is a concern that only 24% of the applications are from learners who wish to enrol at TVET colleges, with the balance of 88% being applications for universities,” the Minister said.
