Pages - Department of Higher Education and Training 10 August 2018
MINISTER NALEDI PANDOR TO APPOINT ADMINISTRATOR TO OVERSEE NASFAS AND APPOINTS CHAIR OF BOARD
The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Naledi Pandor, convened a special meeting with the Board of the National Student Financial Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in Pretoria, this afternoon.
The board was fully quorate and able to make decisions.
Minister Pandor informed the Board of the resignations of the Chairperson, Mr Sizwe Nxasana and another member, Prof Themba Mosia and indicated her gratitude for the service they had provided to the Higher Education and Training Sector and education broadly, in South Africa.
With reference to Mr Nxasana, Minister Pandor said South Africa has benefitted enormously from his expertise.
The deliberations with the Board members were extremely positive. The meeting agreed that there was a need to deal decisively with the challenges facing the entity to ensure student funding is administered optimally for 2019 and that all outstanding issues for 2017 and 2018 are resolved.
The challenges facing NSFAS are complex and emanate from the 2017 rollout of the “student centred” model wherein serious problems were experienced, once it was implemented in all post-secondary institutions
These problems relate to the finalisation of funding decisions and disbursement of fund payment to eligible students.
Minister said, it is important to state that these challenges predate the announcement of fee-free higher education in December 2017.
“I am aware that there is a great deal of public interest in NSFAS, and rightly so, as it is a critical entity for our higher education system and for support to poor and working class students to allow them to access and succeed in higher education and training.” Minister added.
During the meeting the board requested that the Minister appoint an administrator to oversee the NSFAS in accordance with the relevant legislations.
Minister said, this was a most welcome affirmation of her recognition of the to the need to appoint an administrator and indicative of the collaborative approach that the Ministry and board members have always had in their working relationship.
The administrator, once appointed, will assume responsibility for the management, administration and governance of the entity. The board remains competent to function until the appointment of an administrator.
In this regard, the Minister said she was pleased to announce Prof Neil Garrod, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Technology (CUT) as the new chair of the Board.
Minister said she believed the entire Board, led by the former Chairperson, worked tirelessly to assist the entity in an attempt to overcome its operational and other challenges and she sincerely appreciated the commitment of all the board members.
Minister Pandor encouraged and appealed to the NSFAS staff to remain committed and focussed on their core obligations, as South Africa relied on them to make sure that students from poor households receive their funding and are effectively supported to succeed.
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The Department of Higher Education & Training provides integrated post-school education and training so citizens can improve the quality of their lives.
