DA urges funding boost for students

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is planning to write to Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande urging him to request immediate emergency funding from the Treasury to aid the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
DA urges funding boost for students
© Alex Hinds – 123RF.com

The funds would support incoming first-year students, said DA higher education and training spokeswoman Belinda Bozzoli yesterday.

Prof Bozzoli estimated that R1bn in emergency funding would be needed to support students with bachelor passes to go to university.

The Department of Higher Education and Training has said it would provide R10.2bn this year through NSFAS to tertiary institutions, she said in a statement. Two-thirds would go to universities.

However, NSFAS has said it was able to fund only about 50% of all students eligible for funding. Most of the money would go to second- and third-year students.

"[The] fact remains that offering a student a place in university is one thing - paying for it is quite another", Prof Bozzoli said.


 
For more, visit: https://www.bizcommunity.com