S. African financial agency moves to alleviate uncertainty over free higher education

CAPE TOWN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Amid growing uncertainty over free higher education, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) pledged on Thursday to ensure an integrated approach to managing financial aid for students qualified for free tuition.

"This will be our most crucial time of the year as we define the new ways of work and ensure an integrated approach to managing financial aid for our current beneficiaries and FTEN (first time entry) students," the NSFAS said.

The agency issued the statement as chaos was unfolding at a number of universities where students from poor and working-class families were scrambling to get access to free education. At a college in Polokwane, Limpopo Province, six people were injured, one of them seriously, following a stampede ahead of registration on Thursday morning.

In a bid to alleviate concerns, NSFAS spokesperson Kagisho Mamabolo said FTEN students who have been allocated space but haven't applied directly to the NSFAS will be assisted.

However, applicants have to supply the institution with mandatory documentation such as identity documentation of parent, legal guardian or spouse and proof of income, said Mamabolo.

Those students who haven't applied to the institution of higher learning and have also not applied to the NSFAS during the registration period will be assisted through the Department of Higher Education and Training's Central Applications Clearing House and are advised to register on this platform, Mamabolo said.

In December, President Jacob Zuma announced that the government would introduce free higher education and training for poor and working-class undergraduate students at public universities, starting in 2018.

Zuma has been criticized for making the "reckless" announcement without an accompanying implementation strategy and roll-out timeline.

The Finance Ministry said last week that it did not have the money to pay the billions of rand needed to fund free higher education

The NSFAS did not say whether it has enough money to make up for the shortfall but pledged that it will work on reviewing its business model to implement the changes for the 2018 academic year and beyond.

"We have worked tirelessly to improve our systems, working closely with universities, TVET (technical vocational education and training) colleges and Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) for 2018 and will adjust our systems to deal with the extended financial aid and the expected increase in the number of students who now qualify for financial assistance," Mamabolo.

The NSFAS, funded by the government, has provided financial assistance to more than three million beneficiaries since its establishment in 1991.

The agency was retained as the administrator of financial aid for poor and working-class South African students after Zuma made the announcement on free higher education.

The agency has already assessed 80 percent of the applications using the new criteria and will be communicating outcomes to all applicants from January 12, 2018, according to Mamabolo.

These outcomes will be made upon confirmation of institutional admission offers, he said.

"We are liaising and exchanging information with DHET in order to assist prospective students who have been offered a place at the university or TVET College in order to provide financial assistance," Mamabolo said. Enditem