Around the world, governments create avenues to help students so they can study and have a good life. In South Africa, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is an avenue by the government to assist students in need.
It has been an enormous aid to students who would otherwise have no reason to be in school. Like almost all similar systems, especially in Africa, it has been bedevilled by its challenges.
Facts have emerged that hundreds of students have not been paid their allowance by the scheme.
By the way, as early as last year, thousands of ghost students had received funds from the NSFAS, leading to bona side students who didn’t get funds to complain about possible fraud surrounding the scheme.
Some students have taken to social media to complain about not receiving their allowance. Some have noted they cannot concentrate because they don’t know where their next meals will come from.
However, on the current crisis, the NSFAS is reportedly awaiting funds from the national treasury. An additional R3 billion is expected from the department of education to aid the NSFAS scheme.
It will be interesting to see if and when the complaining students will receive their allowance from the NSFAS.
