More financial support for tertiary students
“We have put a massive effort into ensuring all those from disadvantaged backgrounds have the ability to enroll into university and college."
Government has increased financial support for the Higher Education and Training sector through the NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) student loan system by more than 600 per cent for universities.
According to a statement released by the Department of Higher Education, there was a massive increase of 17 900 per cent for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in the past ten years.
The Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, says official spending figures from the department show the total amount of money spent through NSFAS in support of students at universities and colleges from poor and lower-income families grew twelve-fold from R 1.755-billion in 2007 to R 22.307-billion in 2016.
“These figures make it clear post school education and training has been, and continues to be, an absolute focus and priority.
“We have put a massive effort into ensuring all those from disadvantaged backgrounds have the ability to enroll into university and college.
“We are also putting greater effort into ensuring those who either don’t qualify for, or choose not to go to, university or college can gain the training and skills they need to become full participants in the economy,” he says.
