29 000 NSFAS students owe debt to varsities, DA calls for decentralised funding system
28 May 2021
The DA can reveal that 29 140 students currently owe money to universities as a result of inefficiencies at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
In response to a DA parliamentary question, Minister Blade Nzimande confirmed that these University students are in debt either due to late or incomplete payments by NSFAS.
The constant challenge of rising student debt because of NSFAS incompetence has caused a great threat to the financial stability of many universities across the country and contributes to the instability on campuses.
The blame should be placed at NSFAS’s door because of its inability to synchronize university and TVET college registration systems with their systems for ease of access and a faster turnaround time is failing the students who waiting on funding outcomes.