DHET slammed for not extending student allowances

STUDENT leaders have slammed universities and the Department of Higher Education and Training for not extending grant allowances.

Last week, University of KwaZulu-Natal students received an internal communique stating that they will receive the last of their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances this month.

“In the government gazette 43772 (…) it was indicated that NSFAS and DHET have not allocated or approved any funding for additional academic year costs in 2020,” read the message.

“In view of the above, NSFAS funded students are advised that the cycle (of) 10 allowances, scheduled for payment on 2 November 2020, will be the last payments for the 2020 academic year. Please use these allowances wisely.”

The aforementioned gazette was signed by Dr Blade Nzimande on 5 October and it states that “there is currently a process underway to model and plan for any additional academic year costs for NSFAS- funded students.”

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A number of universities have extended their academic calendar to 2021 to make up for the time lost during the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sifiso Simelane, outgoing Student Representative President of UKZN, said stopping the allowances did not make sense.

“A lot of our students are heavily dependent on the NSFAS allowances and there is going to be a lot of hunger,” he said.

“We are against that decision. The allowances have to be extended and be aligned with the extended academic calendar as a matter of principal.”

Simelane said the general reaction from the student population was of anger and shock. “It’s difficult because the university is funded by DHET and without that funding, their hands are also tied but we are engaging with management to try and find a solution,” said Simelane.

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Mphathi Majola, a student at UKZN, said the move by DHET was “insensitive”.

“DHET is well aware that there are students who come from poor households that’s why they continued paying allowances even during the lockdown, now what are they expecting those same students to eat from December till next year,” he said.

Njabulo Sangweni, Durban University of Technology SRC President, said they are still waiting for the university to confirm if allowances will be received for December.

According to DUT’s amended academic calendar, learning will end on 24 December.

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