PRINCIPLES OF STUDENT FINANCE 101
For several years now, ignorant armies have been clashing by night, and day, over the financing of university students through their courses. It is time to take stock of the constraints within which solutions must be sought.
The government does not have remotely enough money to fund tuition fees, accommodation, meals, books and travel for all students, even if there is an offset contribution related to household income. At the present level of funding of the National Students Financial Aid Scheme, tuition fees can be fully funded for all students from households with incomes less than the personal income tax threshold (currently R 73 650 per annum). In addition, partial funding of tuition fees on a linearly declining scale is possible up to a household income of R 150 000 per annum. But no more.
No amount of lecture disruption or campus blockading, or poo or Molotov cocktail throwing, or taking vice-chancellors, senates or councils hostage is going to change this fact. Although it may be that an allocation to NSFAS over and above that planned will be made next year, it is unlikely to be large enough to change much, given current fiscal austerity.
When making decisions about applications and enrolments, students, and the households from which they come, have far too little information. The inevitable result is sub-optimal choice. To improve the situation every university should publish the following information by June each year:
Costs. (a) Tuition fees for the following year, (b) Information about accommodation costs, not only in university residences, but in private rental accommodation within reach of the university, if needed, (c) an estimate of the minimum costs of purchased meals, if needed, (d) a provision for books and other study materials and (e) a provision for travel costs