Of the R8.8 billion, only R3.9 billion has been allocated to university loans and bursaries, with the remainder of the money going to further education and training bursaries (R2.1 billion), scarce skills bursaries, including Funza Lushaka (R2.4 billion).
SRC President Enwee Human told Perdeby that he is “very concerned” about how students who rely on NSFAS will be able to fund their education.
“Our students already have a huge issue with NSFAS, and with the amount of money in the current budget (the 2014 budget) not covering the needs of our students, it is really a scary prospect for the next few years,” he said.
A report from the National Assembly’s portfolio committee on higher education found that only half of the students who applied for assistance from NSFAS received funding.
The report also found that government did not provide sufficient funding to universities, which contributed to high fees and overcrowding across South Africa’s universities.
According to the report, state funding per student enrolled full time fell by 1.1% each year from 2000 to 2010 while tuition fees per student enrolled full time increased by 2.5.% each year over the same period.
Image: timeslive.oc.za
