Major cost pressure on higher education
Despite South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress, earlier this year vowing that free higher education could become a reality as early as 2018, Wednesday’s medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) revealed glaring gaps in funding for the country’s students.
According to the MTBPS, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in 2016 gave 225 950 university students with a family income of less than R122 000 financial assistance, which amounted to 30% of undergraduate students.
“If NSFAS were to cover the full cost of study for the 30% of undergraduates who currently qualify, the scheme would require R10.7-billion in the 2018 academic year, in addition to the R11.4-billion currently available,” National Treasury said.
Proposals to extend cover to middle-income households were being considered, but data was currently unreliable.
“Government is working with universities to verify the data.”
Currently NSFAS loans and bursaries only cover a portion of the full costs of study.
The funding shortfall were government to fully fund the 30% of undergraduates would grow from R10.7-billion in 2018 to R12.6-billion in 2019, R14.8-billion in 2020 and R17.3-billion in 2021.
These shortfalls rise sharply were government to fund 75% of the country’s undergraduates, from R40.7-billion in 2018 to R46-billion in 2019, R52-billion in 2020, and R58.8-billion in 2021.
There are also gaps in funding for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.
In 2016, NSFAS provided 225 557 TVET college students whose family’s income is below the R122 000 threshhold with financial assistance.
This funded around 70% of full-time students.
Covering all TVET students would require an additional R7.1-billion in 2018, which would accumulate to R23.5-billion over the next three years.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Established in 1933, EKATO is the world leader in agitation technology, supplying agitators for processes and applications such as chemicals and...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Multotec, recognised industry leaders in metallurgy and process engineering help mining houses across the world process minerals more efficiently,...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
