DA

DA concerned by NSFAS delayed payments to students. Photo: NSFAS/ Facebook

DA condemns NSFAS chaos causing students to suffer

The DA says more than 100 000 students preparing for and writing their final examinations now have to do so on empty stomachs.

DA

DA concerned by NSFAS delayed payments to students. Photo: NSFAS/ Facebook

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has been inundated with complaints and requests for assistance from students nationwide whose allowances have not been paid yet.

DA CRITICISES NSFAS FOR FAILING STUDENTS

“We call on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to engage with all the universities to ensure that NSFAS payments are seamless and that no students are made to suffer due to administrative bungles from either the Scheme or the institutes,” said Chantel King MP, the DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

“More than 100 000 students preparing for and writing their final examinations now have to do so on empty stomachs with no indication of when this chaos would be solved,” she criticised.

STUDENT FINANCIAL SCHEME NOT PLAYING ITS ROLE, ACCORDING TO DA

She added that NSFAS is meant to ensure impoverished students access to higher education.

“It’s not meant to cause undue stress and suffering.”

King

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SHADOW MINISTER TO REPORT THE FINANCIAL SCHEME TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

The DA has called on the parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education to bring NSFAS back to the committee to account on the issues of ghost students and give clarity on the cancellation of the direct payment contracts.

“The DA will be sure to insist that NSFAS also apprises the committee on how it plans to eradicate payment failures next year. Students cannot continue to suffer due to the Scheme’s ineptitude,” said King.

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No statements have been released by the student financial scheme as yet.

This is a developing story. An update will be published as and when new information is available,

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