With the final examinations approaching within a matter of one month, hundreds of University of Fort Hare (UFH) students face financial uncertainty due to potential defunding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
On Wednesday, 16 October 2024, the UFH branch of the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) met with the university’s Financial Aid Office to investigate numerous student inquiries. We were alarmed to discover that over 1000 students currently have no funding.
NSFAS has informed the Financial Aid Office that 262 students will also be defunded for various reasons, including:
- Dual registration – referring to students registered at one institution while failing to deregister from another.
- Exceeding the annual household income of R350 000.
- Exceeding the N+1 rule which refers to students who have not completed their qualifications within the minimum time plus one additional year.
- Poor academic performance of students failing to meet minimum academic requirements.
- Applications submitted before migration – referring to students who reapplied for funding before their initial application was processed.
I have written to the office of the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, the DA’s Dr Mimmy Gondwe, and submitted a list of affected students, requesting that her Help Desk verify the reasons for their defunding.
Dr Gondwe has replied positively confirming that her Help Desk will indeed investigate the matter.
We will also reach out to DA members serving on the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, urging them to demand action regarding the failures of NSFAS systems, as well as verification issues, and a lack of capacity. We will request of them to convene a discussion with all relevant stakeholders to address the future of financial aid systems.
Furthermore, we call on the Minister of Higher Education to advocate for a fair appeals process that involves Financial Aid Offices and is accessible to all defunded students.
The unfortunate reality is that the Department and NSFAS have left affected students high and dry by failing to adequately notify them of these developments. Many students have not been given the opportunity to appeal the decision.
DASO will continue our fight to ensure that the Department prioritises the well-being of students and that no student is left behind.