No registration fees for NSFAS qualifying students

HIGHER Education, Science and Technology minister, Blade Nzimande, says all National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) qualifying students do not have to pay upfront registration fees at universities or colleges.

“The fact that for the first time NSFAS is able to say you qualify, it means therefore, when you go to register when you’ve been accepted, you’ve got proof to say, ‘I don’t have to pay registration’.

“It is also a great improvement in the system because before, you would have a number of NSFAS qualifying students being asked to pay registration fees, that we have eliminated now [and] who ever does this is breaking the law,” Nzimande said.

Briefing the media on Post-school Education and Training sector state of readiness for the academic year 2020 on Thursday, Nzimande said that 430 000 applications have been approved for NSFAS funding.

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Nzimande said that NSFAS has received a record-breaking number of applications by the closing date of 30 November 2019, with more than 543 268 first-time applications (prior year 428 929), received from applicants across the country, with majority of the applicants submitting applications online via the myNSFAS portal.

“Applicants include those who were in Matric in 2019, learners in Grade 10 – 11 and those intending to further studies at the TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) Colleges, out of school youth, returning/continuing students without NSFAS funding in prior years,” Nzimande said.

A total of 281 639 of all applications received so far are South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) beneficiaries.

The Minister attributed the success rate in applications to an extensive outreach campaign, including partnerships with both local and provincial governments; and the private sector.

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