How exactly student funding will work in 2017 – who’s paying, and who’s not
Higher education minister Blade Nzimande has briefed the media on the country’s state of readiness and academic funding in 2017.
Nzimande confirmed that 26 public universities will provide access to over 197,400 new entrants wishing to pursue their studies across all general, technical and professional fields in 2017.
Included in these are the three new universities: Sol Plaatje University (SPU), the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) and the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU).
Following a tumultuous two years of student protests Nzimande also outlined how academic funding would work over the course of 2017.
NSFAS
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) grants cover the increases for tuition fees and university or college-managed accommodation, and will not have to be repaid by qualifying students.
Nzimande confirmed that there wouldn’t be any university fee increases for NSFAS students in 2017, following the news that government would be providing an additional R9 billion for the scheme over the coming year – raising its funding by over 18% to universities over the next three years to assist poor and missing middle students.
Further, government said it will pay the fee increase, capped at 8%, for all qualifying registered students with a gross combined family income up to R600,000 per annum in 2017.
All NSFAS qualifying students would not be required to pay any registration or upfront fees in 2017 either, Nzimande said.
“This will benefit more than 75% of university and TVET college students across the country”, he said.
The Missing-Middle
Nzimande also addressed the “missing-middle” – students from households with annual incomes of between R122‚000 and R600‚000 who do not qualify for NSFAS support.
During 2017, the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme model, which is aimed at assisting the “missing middle”, will be piloted at six universities and one TVET college.
The pilot will fund the studies of approximately 1,500 students studying in a number of general formative degrees as well as seven professional qualifications and one artisan qualification for the duration of their studies.
While Nizmande did not disclose further details on the programme, the new funding model is reportedly being spearheaded by former FirstRand boss, Sizwe Nxasana, and will receive funding from government‚ the private sector‚ non-profit organisations‚ the skills levy‚ financial institutions‚ donors‚ retirement funds and social impact bonds.
Everyone else
All other students will be required to pay tuition fees, including increases and other levies as stipulated by their respective universities or institutes.
This is in line with government statements last year that “free education isn’t for all”, and that those who can afford to, must pay.
What it means
The ‘jury’ currently remains split as to whether higher education has done enough to address the problems of South Africa’s NSFAS and missing-middle students.
While some may point to the new Ikusasa plan being a clear step towards addressing students complaints, it remains to be seen whether this will be considered enough of a transformation among the student populace.
The issues of free education and “decolonisation” were also not directly dressed by Nzimande – instead he warned student leaders of “opportunists in their midst, ready to hijack their noble cause”.
During 2016 student protests, the student representatives made it clear that free education for all was the bottom line, and that protests would not stop until that goal is achieved.
Read: Government unveils its higher education financial plan to end student protests
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