Call for More Grants for Poor Students

Students qualifying for state funding could get R43 000 a year from the National Students’ Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) if a proposal made to the Department of Higher Education is accepted by the Cabinet.

Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, says he accepted the recommendations of a report into higher education funding, adding that this is a matter for the Cabinet to debate when his department submit its final proposal, probably by August.

The report recommends amongst others, a higher education student financial aid model including full state subsidisation of poor students and those from working class backgrounds, to be progressively realised over a specific period.

If approved, the plan will cost the taxpayers an estimated R5.2 billion a year.

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