SASCO has noted the proposed guidelines for NSFAS funding for the academic year 2022 and wishes to place it on record that it will contribute to the best interest of the student populace within the Higher Education sector both Vocational and Universities, particularly bias to the children of the poor and working class as they are the majority that relies on this scheme. We strongly believe that our contribution must be informed by the objective realities which the poor faces on daily basis, their socio-economic conditions must be at the centre of whatever the Department of Higher Education and Training with its entities does.
It is therefore in this light that we wish to first advise that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme must working together with SATVETSA convene all SRC Presidents and Secretary Generals of colleges to give them an opportunity to make contribution as it was the case with our other Student Union. Secondly as South African Students Congress, we have given a clear mandate to our deployees both in Universities and TVETs to remain united and equally tow the organisational mandate.
On Financial Eligibility
We note that the financial eligibility criteria are still proposed at R350 000 household income per annum, this policy has been like this since 2018 when the “Fee-Free Education” policy was first rolled out and has not increased albeit the ever-rising inflation rate which means that the standard of living in South Africa is too expensive for the Poor and Working Class. It is for this reason that we continue to lobby and call on the government to increase the bracket to R600 000 to accommodate all Poor and Working-Class children because we don’t believe that someone who’s pay is R33 333 a month must be considered under the so-called “Missing-Middle” any longer.
On Academic Eligibility
As SASCO we remain opposed to any form of systematic exclusion of the poor and working-class children within the higher education sector. We are convinced that NSFAS Policy and guidelines must be in sync with the Exclusion pass rate of all Institutions of Higher Learning which is 55%, we can’t have NSFAS policy that exists outside that consideration as it will create an unnecessary confusion.
We believe that this would be a considerate move any other wouldn’t be a good investment on return as many non-excluded students by institutions would be without funding even though they would be still registered.
On Living & Learning Allowances
As an organisation we must first accept the proposal to standardise allowances between TVET and University students as we believe this will give the necessary comfort and motivation to TVET students, whom have been for the longest time been victims of Landlords and subjected to backrooms. We also highly welcome the cutting of the unreliable middleman who were Universities in this case, students have during Lockdown been subjected to sleep outside because of the blame game between Institutions and NSFAS. We however accept this with caution and hope that NSFAS will take full responsibility of the Student Leases so that students are not bothered or harassed nor subjected to horrible buildings.
SASCO wishes to place in on record that it stands opposed to the proposal to not increase the allowances for the year 2022 as already said, the cost of living is highly expensive in South Africa and we believe that our case of welcoming the increase announced on Thursday, 11 November 2021 by the Minister of Finance is an understanding that the increase is much needed.
In Conclusion
We will engage both the Department of Higher Education and NSFAS on our proposals working with our SRC’s in TVETs, Universities and our Governance Unions. We remain positive that we shall overcome, students must for now focus on their final year assessments and we will keep them abreast as we continue the engagements.
We applaud the DHET & NSFAS for heeding our call for inclusivity in the form of consultations on the important policy matters, it is for this reasons that we call on Journalists to report factual and not cause confusion during this critical period of final assessments in a student life, they should know better the pressure of being a poor student.
Issued by SASCO
Bamanye Matiwane
President
Buthanani Thobela
Secretary General
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