Student funding scheme raises 2023 living allowances by 10%

South Africa’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced it will increase students’ living allowances by 10%. The increase will be backdated to the beginning of the 2023 academic year, reports Faizel Patel for The Citizen.

NSFAS spokesperson Maduvha Maseda said the increase follows Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande’s agreement to the proposal that was put before him a few weeks ago. Nzimande convened the consultations which included inputs from the South African Union of Students (SAUS). “This is a significant development given the reality that in the past three years, no increment was made on student allowances. This is an effort not only to acknowledge the impact of inflation on students’ livelihoods, but a contribution to ease the economic disadvantages suffered by students,” Maseda said.

The living and accommodation allowance increase will be welcomed by students following volatile protests this month. Students from the University of the Witwatersrand took to the streets demanding that the institution allow students owing ZAR150,000 (US$8,000) or less to register for the 2023 academic year, including access to affordable accommodation.
Full report on The Citizen site