Nzimande Urges Swift Action from NSFAS for 2024 Payments. The Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, has issued a call to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to expedite the finalization of payments for the year 2023. Concerns have surfaced about the potential hindrance these unpaid funds may pose to student registrations in 2024.
NSFAS Urged to Resolve Outstanding 2024 Payments
Minister Nzimande has emphasized the imperative for NSFAS to address the backlog of outstanding payments from the previous academic year. Numerous students reported not receiving their entitled allowances in 2023, leading to serious consequences.
Challenges Faced by Students and Institutions
The impact of these unpaid allowances came to light at North-West University (NWU) towards the end of 2023. Many students found themselves stranded on campus without funds for essential needs, such as travel arrangements and food, due to the pending NSFAS allowances.
Minister’s Briefing on Academic Readiness and Challenges
During a recent media briefing focused on the State of Readiness for the 2024 academic year, Minister Nzimande addressed various issues, including challenges related to NSFAS and the release of the 2024 matric results.
Warning Against Registration Denials
Minister Nzimande warned that institutions refusing registration due to unpaid NSFAS fees could impede students from crucial coursework at the beginning of the academic year. He stressed the importance of not denying affected students the opportunity to register.
NSFAS Confirmation and Resolution Steps
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 on Outstanding Allowances
On January 18, 2024, NSFAS released a statement attributing the delay in payment to a lag in the submission of registration data by universities. The organization pledged to engage with affected institutions to promptly resolve the disbursement of outstanding allowances.
Minister Acknowledgment of Delay Causes
Minister Nzimande acknowledged the delay in payments, primarily attributing it to reconciliations with institutions, especially concerning registration data changes. He called on institutions to submit accurate and timely registration data to prevent delays in allowance payments.
Emphasis on Registration Information Accuracy
Highlighting the importance of accurate registration information, the minister stressed its role in circumventing delays in the payment processes. 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 Management and Accuracy for 2024
In preparation for the upcoming year, Minister Nzimande called for NSFAS to adopt a stricter approach in managing the registration adjustment process in 2024. Additionally, he emphasized the crucial role of institutions in submitting accurate registration information upon the initial submission to streamline payment processes.
