Your future is beyond matric
QUALIFY: NSFAS also for Sassa beneficiaries
There are allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds at NSFAS. Ai, what’s new? At the rate we are going, I would be surprised if there wasn’t!
Then, we have parents of matriculants giving up their full-time jobs to get pension payouts in order to throw their child (who has not even sat down for their first final exam paper yet) a grand matric ball.
Sadly, many parents have also gone and put themselves heavily into debt for this occasion.
I am not saying don’t have a matric ball. I am, however, saying: “Don’t have a matric ball on skuld – and then have to worry about electricity and bread money the day after, and paying back the loans the week later.
If you can afford it, by all means go for it, but if you can’t, then please scale down.
However, my main concern amidst all this chaos of corruption and kwaai cars is simply the well-being of our matriculants.
Are they academically and mentally prepared for their exams?
If they plan to study further, have they decided if it will be at a university or a TVET college?
Have they filled out the necessary application forms?
Do they have all their required paperwork for NSFAS?
Do they know what the qualifying criteria is for NSFAS funding?
Here, are a few frequently asked questions on NSFAS answered:
Who qualifies for NSFAS funding?
– All South African citizens;
– All Sassa grant recipients qualify for funding;
– Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per annum;
– Person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600 000 per annum;
– Students who started studying before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum.
Who should not apply?
– Students who have completed a previous qualification;
– Students with a combined household income of more than R350 000 per annum;
– Students who have already applied, qualified and received funding. They are automatically funded for the duration of their studies, provided they pass their modules and meet academic requirements.
What are the NSFAS bursary academic requirements?
You need to have passed Grade 9 to 12 to receive NSFAS funding to study at a TVET college and Grade 12 to receive funding to study at a university or TVET college. If you are approved for NSFAS funding, you will be required to meet the academic admission requirements of the university or TVET college before NSFAS allocates any funding to you.
What does NSFAS funding cover?
The cost covered can include tuition, registration and allowances based on each student’s study circumstance.
NSFAS provides funding to all approved students to cover the cost of tuiion and registration. NSFAS funded students who wish to study at a university will receive additional allowances to cover the cost of books, transport, accommodation, food and personal care.
NSFAS funded students who wish to study at a TVET college will receive additional allowances to cover the cost of transport, accommodation inclusive of meals and personal care.
NSFAS funded students with disability receive the funding according to the TVET and university allowance list; inclusive of supporting devices such as wheelchairs, special computer devices and human support depending on the student’s needs.
What supporting documents are required when you complete your NSFAS application form?
– Your own cellphone number and email address;
– A copy of your ID or birth certificate;
– ID copies of parents, guardian or spouse (or death certificate where applicable);
– Marriage certificate (where applicable);
– Your proof of income or 1 year’s IRP5 (if applicable);
– Your parents, guardian or spouse’s proof of income; if you are a Sassa grant recipient, no proof of income will be required;
– A court order (where applicable);
– Applicants with a disability must submit a completed and signed Disability Annexure A Form;
– An applicant who is recognised as a Vulnerable Child by the Department of Social Development must provide a completed and signed Vulnerable Child Declaration and Consent Form;
– Other documents that may be required, if applicable: Retrenchment letter / UIF documentation; Death certificate/s; Divorce decree etc.
Students must upload the necessary documents as directed by the platform. No affidavits will be accepted.
If there is one thing that I am really happy about, it is that NSFAS funds study at TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges as well.
TVET professions include a wide range of occupations, such as:
– Electricians
– Plumbers
– Building workers
– Heavy equipment operators
– Telecom technicians
– Automotive service personnel
– Aviation maintenance technicians
– Machine operators
South Africa has a shortage of these skills, and these avenues of learning should be explored.
What courses are offered at TVET colleges?
Public TVET colleges offer a very wide range of courses/programmes that have been developed to respond to the scarce skills needed by employers. Courses vary in duration from a short course of a few hours to formal diploma courses of three years.
NSFAS funds ministerial approved programmes and students must refer to each college. However, the generally funded programmes are below:
– Engineering Studies – (National Certificate -Vocational) NQF levels 2-4 & Engineering studies – Report 191 N1-N6
– Engineering and Related Design; Electrical Infrastructure; Civil Engineering Construction and Information Technology & Computer Science
– Business & Utility Studies (National Certificate Vocational) NQF levels 2-4 & Report 191 N1-N6
– Management; Marketing; Finance; Office Administration; Economics & Accounting;
Education & Development; Hospitality; Tourism; Safety in Society and Transport & Logistics
– Pre-Learning Programme (PLP) funding through NSFAS
If you want to know which universities and TVET colleges NSFAS provides funding for, go to:
https://www.nsfas.org.za/content/institutions.html
For more information on NSFAS funding go to: www.nsfas.org.za
Be careful to not go to fraudulent websites and do not give your personal details until you can confirm that you are at the correct place.