Parliament Committee hopes NSFAS backlog resolved by 2019
A parliamentary committee has commended the Higher Education Department for taking steps to avert a possible crisis at NSFAS.
The department's told the financial aid scheme not to process funding applications for 2019 until it deals with a backlog of forms from 18 months ago.
The delay has forced many students to put their studies on hold.
Following the announcement, NSFAS board chairperson Sizwe Nxasana stepped down.
Professor Neil Gorrot's filling in for the time being.
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Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training met with the scheme's management yesterday to learn more about the challenges it is facing.
"They need to champion this and make sure that there's success in the entire process. Just like we have made sure that we remove the backlog on certificates that students did not receive. So too, we are going to ensure that we are not going to end this year with a problem still in this area," Chairperson Connie September said.
Gorrot says they are hoping for a smooth transition to the 2019 academic year.