Students anxiously await feedback from NSFAS
Zondo said it cannot be that students are held to ransom and do not receive their transcripts, due to the inability of the NSFAS to make pay-outs, adding that they cannot allow this entity to falter when it is responsible for billions of rands in aid funds.
While a number of students of Esayidi TVET College have not received their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) payouts, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) recently presented its budget of NSFAS for 2022/23.
The budget of NSFAS is R49 billion of which the DHET is contributing R45.9 billion.
“This includes funding being reprioritised from the departmental budget, to ensure that the full shortfall for the NSFAS is addressed in 2022/23 to support students during the 2022 academic year,” said the department.
However, Sanele Zondo of the Inkatha Freedom Party said while the budget is commendable, far too many young people and their families are standing in queues and anxiously awaiting feedback from NSFAS on whether students can register, study, and be accommodated on campuses.
Zondo said it cannot be that students are held to ransom and do not receive their transcripts, due to the inability of the NSFAS to make pay-outs, adding that they cannot allow this entity to falter when it is responsible for billions of rands in aid funds.
“All South Africans are well aware that when corruption rears its ugly head, it destroys the good intentions for which funds are meant to be disseminated to students and to support families who live below the required income threshold. The IFP supported the recommendations regarding the myriad of issues raised, to ensure that we get the DHET back on track, and to get students back in classes and on the road to recovery,” said Zondo.
He added that with the highest unemployment rate in the country and the highest number of young people out of jobs, they must ensure that they do right in the department to sharpen their focus and ensure that critical skills and shortages are addressed adequately.
“It is imperative that this department and all its line function entities are supported, while oversight is increased from the portfolio committee’s side, to hold all stakeholders to account. The lack of consequence management for those who step out of line is a matter that requires urgent intervention. A very stern and clear message must be sent to all officials who are party to bungling the financial processes of this Department and its entities,” said Zondo.
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