Discrepancies in Nsfas Parliament Report Unveiled by Outa

Discrepancies in Nsfas Parliament Report Unveiled by Outa. Outa, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, has raised serious concerns regarding the recent presentation of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) report to Parliament Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science, and Innovation. Outa spokesperson Rudie Heyneke outlined several areas of worry, including red flags, inaccuracies, partial truths, and what they perceive as outright dishonesty.

Key Concerns Unearthed by Outa

Outa examination of the Nsfas report unveiled significant areas of concern:

1. Lack of Sub-Contractor Transparency

Nsfas failed to disclose the names of service providers, raising transparency issues.

2. Drastic Reduction in Monthly Fees

The report claimed a substantial 86% reduction in the monthly fee for student accounts, from R89 to R12. Outa questions the viability of such a decrease and whether service providers might compensate for losses through increased transaction fees.

3. Unpaid Students

Concerns were raised about students who had not received their allowances, highlighting the adverse human impact of delayed payments.

4. Student Accommodation Shortages

The report indicated that only 25,803 student beds were accredited for 2024, significantly less than the actual requirement. Outa is investigating the process of appointing government officials, university employees, and accommodation providers responsible for accrediting student accommodation.

Inadequate Clarity from Nsfas

The Citizen attempted to seek clarification from Nsfas regarding the report’s discrepancies. However, despite promises of a response, no further information has been provided.

Shortfalls in Student Allowances

A presentation by payment system provider Tenet Technology revealed that 144,396 students received allowances out of an allocation of 225,000 per annum, indicating a shortfall of over 80,000 students who did not receive their allowances through the new direct-payment system. Delays and high transaction costs were cited as key challenges by the company.