NSFAS hopes to open funding applications in September
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) says students seeking financial help will hopefully soon be able to apply.
The fund says students seeking financial aid can expect applications to open in September.
The embattled scheme was ordered to halt all new applications by Higher Education Naledi Pandor until the backlog in disbursing aid for 2017 and 2018 had been cleared.
Pandor announced the appointment of Randall Carollissen as the administrator of the scheme on Friday.
“It’s part of his priorities that minister had given to the new administrator - that the applications should be open as early as September. We are looking forward to that process being done,” says spokesperson, Lunga Ngqengelele.
ALSO READ: Nehawu threatens to ‘physically remove’ NSFAS CEO
Carollissen will officially consumed the position next week – with his first order of business to clear the backlog.
“He will take over the management, governance and administration of NSFAS. Amongst his key tasks will be ensuring the distribution of aid for 2017 and 2018 as well as urgently finalise plans for 2019.”
ALSO READ: DA calls for 'emergency fund' amid NSFAS woes
The deputy vice-chancellor of the Central University of Technology (CUT) Neil Garrod was appointed as the new chairperson of the scheme’s board last week.
The leadership changes comes amid challenges at the financial aid scheme, but Nqengelele says the problems “will soon be something of the past”.