DUT SRC want test period postponed due to unpaid allowances
Some students at the Durban University of Technology feel they can’t be expected to sit for tests this month - claiming they have not yet received their allowances from student funding scheme, NSFAS.
"The problem is that NSFAS has not deposited book allowances so that students are able to buy books for themselves. The growing concern is we can't allow students to write their first test without receiving their book allowances in order for them to prepare," the SRC’s Lesley Ngazire said.
He claims more than 6000 students are yet to receive their S-Bux payments. The allowances are meant to buy food and books. Some affected students say they are unable to study for tests without textbooks.
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Ngazire says student leaders met with DUT management and NSFAS this week but the situation is yet to be resolved.
NSFAS says it's already paid close to R2 billion to institutions across the country since the start of the year.
DUT says the payments are made solely by the scheme. The SRC says strike action at the varsity will continue until allowances are paid.