Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim has made an agreement with the University of Fort Hare, student leaders and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to improve student accommodation, safety and funding at the institution.
This follows Cassim’s oversight visit to the university’s East London Campus on Monday, where he met with university management, led by Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Mzukisi Njotini, the Student Representative Council (SRC), student leaders, and other stakeholders to address concerns raised through the Deputy Minister’s Helpdesk.
The measures include NSFAS conducting monitoring and evaluation compliance inspections at residences identified by students as being in poor condition.
Among the concerns raised are poor conditions at student residences, student safety, prolonged GAP investigations, and delays in student funding. GAP investigations are vetting and verification processes conducted by NSFAS to confirm student registrations, academic results and financial eligibility.
Following the engagements, Cassim and the delegation inspected two student residences in East London, which include a privately owned residence leased by the university and a NSFAS-accredited private residence described as being in a horrific condition, with no proper showers, study and laundry facilities.
Under the agreed action plan, SRC accommodation officers in East London and Alice will provide lists of residences and the specific challenges identified at each residence. NSFAS will then begin monitoring and evaluation compliance inspections at the identified residences from next week.
The Deputy Minister’s office will receive progress reports, with particular focus on the consequences for those responsible for accrediting residences that fail to meet the required standards.
University financial aid officials, working with NSFAS, will also update qualification codes for extended programmes to ensure that funding assessments reflect the correct programmes.
This is expected to assist students whose funding was discontinued due to incorrect calculations relating to the NSFAS N+ Rule, with the aim of having their funding reinstated where applicable. The N+ Rule is the maximum timeframe that NSFAS funds a student's tertiary qualification.
The university’s financial aid officials and NSFAS will further meet virtually to address delays in Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme allowances, extended programme funding and other outstanding bursary matters.
In addition, the university’s Chief Financial Officer will provide a list of unpaid residences, the number of affected students and individual student cases for tracking, with NSFAS involved in the process.
The university has committed to expedite payments to the affected residences and keep the Deputy Minister’s office updated on progress.
“Students cannot study properly in residences with sewage problems, no hot water and no proper place to cook or study, and they should not wait months for funding that has already been allocated to them.
“What matters now are the inspections, lists, meetings and the dates and actions that we have agreed on. My office will track these actions, and I will return to Alice to see the residences at that campus for myself,” the Deputy Minister said.
Cassim thanked the university, SRC and NSFAS for a constructive engagement. – SAnews.gov.za
