Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is focused on evaluating NSFAS as student funding at
South African Universities.
Problem Investigated
Public universities in South Africa witnessed student protests on campuses during
2015 and 2016. These were orchestrated by students demanding additional funding
assistance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), zero-fee
increases and the scrapping of student debt by universities. In 2012 a report for feefree
university education for poor people was handed to the Minister of Higher
Education and Training (DHET, 2012). It suggested that fee-free higher education
would be possible if more funds were injected into the NSFAS (DHET, 2012:49). It is
not currently known how much funding is required to fund both the poor students and
the missing middle students who earn beyond the NSFAS eligibility threshold.
Methodology
A quantitative research method was used. Information on student funding at a specific
period, was collected using different universities to corroborate the data received in
order to solve the research problem. The approach assisted in identifying how student
funding is allocated per university in a specific academic year.
Value of the research
The higher education sector is constantly evolving. The past struggle of universities
was to ensure that they attracted the best academics and students. The focus has
now changed to the student struggle on matters of academic exclusion, financial
exclusion and the decolonising of universities. The study of student funding in South...