South African student aid provider in trouble after fees scrapped

The South African government has appointed an administrator to take over 바카라사이트 running of its student financial aid scheme after 바카라사이트 previous chair resigned, citing 바카라사이트 ¡°extreme strain¡± of 바카라사이트 introduction of free university tuition in 바카라사이트 country.

Sizwe Nxasana stepped down earlier this month after 바카라사이트 National Students¡¯ Financial Aid Scheme faced difficulty in making payments to 바카라사이트 large number of undergraduates who became eligible for support when former president Jacob Zuma announced in December that 바카라사이트 government would fully subsidise higher education for about 90 per cent of learners.

The organisation was poised to postpone 바카라사이트 opening of applications for students starting courses in 2019 because a backlog in disbursing aid due in 2017 and 2018 had not been cleared, local media reported.

On 17 August, higher education minister Naledi Pandor announced that Randall Carollissen, group executive of revenue planning, analysis and reporting at 바카라사이트 South African Revenue Service, would take over 바카라사이트 governance, management and administration of NSFAS.

¡°The immediate focus for 바카라사이트 administrator will be to ensure 바카라사이트 effective closeout of 바카라사이트 2017 and 2018 student funding decisions and disbursements, as well as to urgently finalise plans for 바카라사이트 2019 funding cycle,¡± 바카라사이트 Department for Higher Education and Training said in a statement.

The department said that Ms Pandor had urged Dr Carollissen to prepare for 바카라사이트 opening of 2019 applications in September 2018, despite 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 backlog has still not yet cleared.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that damage caused by 바카라사이트 Fees Must Fall protests?that led to 바카라사이트 abolition of fees for most students has cost South African universities R786 million (?42.5 million) in 바카라사이트 past three years.

The hardest-hit institution was North-West University, which sustained R198 million in arson damage at its Mafikeng campus, while 바카라사이트 University of Johannesburg?sustained fire and vandalism damage worth R144 million, according to figures released by Ms Pandor in response to parliamentary questions from shadow higher education minister, Belinda Bozzoli.

Professor Bozzoli said that ¡°this is not even 바카라사이트 full cost of this period, as universities and colleges have also had to bear 바카라사이트 costs of extra security, and repeat classes and exams, while many students have lost considerable study time as a result of long closures of 바카라사이트ir campuses¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com