I am today, 12 May 2011, handing over a discussion document to the Minister for Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, containing a number of proposals for the reform of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). These proposals were arrived at after consultation with students at over 30 tertiary education institutions across South Africa during April and May. We, as a South African student collective feel, if implemented, they could contribute to the development of NSFAS into a scheme that is able to offer more opportunities to more South Africans, more effectively than at present.
It has come to our attention over the past few years that there is escalating and significant unhappiness from students about the management of NSFAS, so much so that violent protests around financial aid are now surpassing education and learning as the dominant culture at our institutions of higher learning.
All South Africans deserve to be able to take their basic education further, and obtain a tertiary education. The DA Youth believes that the doors of higher learning need to be open to all South Africans that have the talent and commitment to qualify for admission to university, regardless of their circumstances, and that no individual, deserving and capable of attending a tertiary institution should be unable to on the basis of finance.
In light of the fact that only 19% of NSFAS beneficiaries have successfully graduated since the scheme’s inception, at the heart of the document is the principle that NSFAS cannot simply be a vehicle for supplying aid, but needs to shift its focus to encouraging and fostering academic excellence and ultimately graduating skilled students successfully into the market.
Some of the key proposals contained in the document are that:
• Interest is only charged when a student finishes studying and not from 1 April in the year in which they are granted a loan, as is currently the case.
• NSFAS loans can be repaid through service to the state year-on-year in a student’s field of study.
• Full course fees are paid for the most financially needy students to prevent financial exclusions.
• Loans are converted to bursaries on a sliding scale directly linked to academic performance in order to encourage academic excellence.
• Socio-economic status rather than race is used as a proxy for support to reverse the trend of historically advantaged institutions with affluent black students receiving the same NSFAS allocations as historically disadvantaged institutions with poor students.
I will today be appealing to the Minister on behalf of all students to intervene in NSFAS urgently and implement these proposals so that the doors to higher learning can be opened to all.
Media Enquiries:
Makashule Gana
Federal Youth Leader
082 773 4755
Aimee Franklin
National Youth Director
072 232 0127
Kelly Miller
DA Media Officer
072 226 9759
6 Comments to “Makashule Gana: Opening the doors of higher education to all”
Post comment
FOLLOW US:
- RT @zakmbhele: @DA_News: What happened to Team SA’s Olympic funding? The Lebogang Moeng story http://t.co/SSFUfDn8
- Our Youth Wage Subsidy Now campaign outline:... http://t.co/wfHyz9Qo
- Today at 13h00 we will present our plan to mobilise South Africans behind the Youth Wage Subsidy.
Lehlohonolo Mtshali says:
Mr Gana we need to see more of you after the elections, the are young people who don’t no where to ”GO” and we all know that DA will be a good HOME them.
Chuma freedom says:
Gud work Mr Gana…keep on representing us as S.As youth!
Luyanda says:
hei comrade its election time but , i strongly suggest a long term program that will free other historic slave wich i was part of them in the hands of ANC, it should be kickstarted jst after next election…..ther are millions of unhappy young people about current state of things in this ANC gorvenment lets lure them in preparing ther future. Transparency now & after this election will do magic in national election…I thank you comrade( hope we’ll give this task a priority status) Mr Gwadela (New DA) member from historic slavery home (ANC) 0733893062
Luyanda says:
to all my fello cadre’s stl in pharoa’s den, i have taken a first stepjst like a child I volunteery join a home for all DA, i was a hard working decipline cadre bt my hard work doesn’t benefit those i intended to the ordinary citizens, i m not unhappy jst dissapointed but i’ll give it all to my new parents they capable of giving benefits of my hard work to ordinary S.A’s
Busiswa says:
I hope all you are promising is true and I am looking forward to see the change and I want to be one the youth that will get the chance have thier lives changed by the DA and I will vote for DA.I support the fact that you want to hand out bursaries I need it becouse I want to make a difference in my country. DA ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!! 0849586418
LEHLOHONOLO MTSHALI says:
GO!! to your community work with your councilor then you will see the change.