‘Missing middle’ students hold most tertiary debt
Universities South Africa says the majority of those
contributing to R20 billion worth of student debt at the country's public
institutions are students from the missing middle.
The organisation is an umbrella body representing 26 public universities.
The missing middle are students who come from families who earn too much to qualify for assistance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme but not enough to afford higher education.
The organisation's Chief Executive, Phethiwe Matutu says they expect just under R9 billion to be recovered.
READ: NSFAS warns against student evictions
She says this means institutions will not be able to fully implement their budgets due to non-payment.
"Not all of them are coming from NSFAS, it is just a few occasions where NSFAS, for instance has kept accommodation [and] leaving students with a debt of more than R600 million in 2023 and 2024. Also, that capping has got ramifications on the universities."
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