Nzimande Urges Swift Action from NSFAS for 2023 Payments. The Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, is urging the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to expedite the finalization of payments for the year 2023. This call comes amidst growing concerns that unpaid funds could impede students from registering for the academic year 2024.
Challenges Faced by Students in 2023
Thousands of students reportedly did not receive their entitled NSFAS allowances in 2023, leading to significant challenges. At the North-West University (NWU), the impact of these unpaid allowances surfaced towards the end of 2023. Numerous students found themselves stranded on campus, lacking funds for travel and basic necessities due to pending allowances.
Ministerial Briefing on 2024 Academic Year Readiness
During a media briefing on Tuesday, Minister Nzimande addressed the State of Readiness for the 2024 academic year, highlighting NSFAS-related challenges and the release of the 2024 matric results.
Warning on Registration Hurdles
Emphasizing the importance of not obstructing affected students from registering, Minister Nzimande cautioned that institutions refusing registration due to unpaid NSFAS fees could hinder students from crucial coursework at the beginning of the academic year.
Minister’s Call to Action
Minister Nzimande called on NSFAS, in collaboration with affected institutions, to promptly resolve outstanding cases. He urged institutions not to deny NSFAS-funded students with outstanding payments the opportunity to register for the current cycle.
NSFAS Confirmation and Resolution Status
NSFAS confirmed that out of 20,000 outstanding allowances, 9,128 have been successfully resolved, with the remaining 11,000 prioritized for processing as part of the normal 2024 disbursement procedure.
NSFAS Statement and Attributed Delay
On January 18, 2024, NSFAS released a statement attributing the delay in payment to a lag in the submission of registration data by universities. NSFAS assured that they would engage with affected institutions to promptly resolve the disbursement of outstanding allowances.
Addressing Delay Reasons and Call for Accuracy
Acknowledging the delay in payments, Minister Nzimande attributed it mainly to reconciliations with institutions, particularly concerning registration data changes. He called on institutions to submit accurate and timely registration data to prevent delays in allowance payments.
Emphasis on Accurate Registration Information
Highlighting the importance of accurate registration information, the minister emphasized its role in circumventing delays in the payment processes.
Forward-Looking Measures for 2024
Looking ahead to 2024, Nzimande called for stricter management of the registration adjustment process and emphasized the need for institutions to submit accurate registration information upon the initial submission.
Stricter NSFAS Management in 2024
Nzimande underscored the need for NSFAS to be more stringent in 2024 regarding how it manages the registration adjustment process, with a specific call for institutions to submit their registration information accurately upon the first submission.
