Johannesburg – More than two million students studying at South Africa’s public Universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges have been funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) since 2013, the Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande said on Monday.
Ndzimande released details of the NSFAS funding affroded to deserving students since 2013.
The number of students who were supported by the government each year at universities were as follows:
2013 – 194,923;
2014 – 186,150;
2015 – 178,961 and
2016 – 244,488
TVET college beneficiaries were allocated as follows:
2013 — 220,978;
2014 — 228,642;
2015 – 235,988 and
2016 – 225,864
The department of higher education said in addition 194,353 university students have so far been supported in the 2017 academic year, with 78,413 covering first time entrances and 115 940 for returning students.
"It is also envisaged that college funding decisions for the current academic year will be concluded at the end of this month (April 2017) – with 123 332 students already receiving support," said Nzimande.
“It is important to note that these figures will increase after the conclusion of all pending funding decisions. In this regard, NSFAS has employed additional resources to expedite the process.”