The missing middle tertiary students may have finally found a place in the national education funding schemes but to effectively bridge the gap, planning, foresight and tangible mechanisms need to be in place.
This was the message during an informative webinar on Wednesday hosted by nonprofit company Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme Foundation (Isfap) that brought together academics, institutions and statutory bodies.
The platform unanimously welcomed a January 15 announcement by the government of its plan to spearhead a comprehensive student funding model to support the missing middle — the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) excluded students falling within an annual household income of R350,000-R600,000.
Higher education, science and innovation minister Blade Nzimande said the government-backed loans scheme would be implemented at an initial R3.8bn in the first of two phases in 2024.
The webinar, facilitated by activist Khaya Sithole, unpacked the status of student funding and support in the historical context.
Universities SA chief executive Dr Phethiwe Matutu welcomed the state’s commitment to a fund targeting missing middle students.
She, however, expressed concern about the sustainability of the government’s new loan scheme, in which the National Skills Fund (NSF) contributed R1.5bn, while sector education and training authorities (Setas) allocated R2.3bn.
“The question is what will happen come next year and the next [few] years after that?”
The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) board chair and University of Cape Town’s chief financial officer, Vincent Motholo, said the institution had explored ways to address the burden on students.
He said, as an additional mechanism, UCT negotiated with financial institutions for favourable loans for students.
The panel of experienced chartered accountants also considered potential sustainable solutions to widen access to funding and support opportunities for missing middle youth.
Manufacturing, engineering and related services sector education and training authority (merSETA) acting chief executive Disa Mpande said the entity was collaborating with NSFAS to support funding.
“We signed for about R140m in the last financial year to fund 300 students.
“[But] we’re possibly looking at about 500 that will benefit from the grant,” she said.
Energy and water sector education and training authority (ewSETA) skills delivery and quality assurance executive Robyn Vilakazi said: “The scheme, in addition to [existing mechanisms], creates more opportunities for students to enter the system.
“It allows Setas, the government, academic institutions and the private sector, to focus more broadly on the entire package of support students need to complete their qualifications and successfully enter the workplace.”
Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme Foundation chief executive Morne du Toit said student financial aid programmes such as Isfap provided students with a comprehensive model of support from the outset and throughout.
“The ‘wrap-around system’ is our pride and joy as Isfap,” Du Toit said.
“This includes everything from ensuring allowances are paid on time every month to providing mental and psychosocial support, workplace readiness, study skills and stress management.
“We need to create a structure for students to feel supported and part of a family.”
HeraldLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.