NSFAS engage institutions over accomodation pilot project

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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) held engagements with the management of the Vaal University of Technology, Tshwane University of Technology and Sedibeng TVET College.

These institutions are part of the NSFAS Student Accommodation Pilot Project in 2024.

The meetings were held on December 6-7 and will continue this week at the Tshwane North and Tshwane South TVET Colleges.

Board Chairperson, Ernest Khosa said the engagements form part of the NSFAS preparations for the 2024 academic year.

In its meeting last week, the NSFAS Board decided to onboard an additional nineteen TVET Colleges on top of three that were part of the Private Accommodation Providers accreditation test pilot in 2023.

This bringing the total number to twenty-two TVET Colleges and seventeen Universities for the 2024 pilot project.

According to Khosa, NSFAS will take over the accreditation of Private Accommodation Providers as well as the accommodation of NSFAS-funded students.

“We held frank and cordial engagements with these selected institutions and are looking forward to equally progressive meetings with the other identified institutions, including stakeholders within the post school education and training sector.

“These consultations will be followed by the NSFAS and the institutional technical teams meetings to finalise all operational matters.

“To this effect, NSFAS has appointed four Solution Partners to conduct accreditation of properties that applied for accreditation on the NSFAS accommodation platform,” he said.

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Khosa indicated that NSFAS has communicated the directive by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, that all institutions should not enter into long-term lease agreements with private accommodation providers in order to enable the NSFAS accommodation processes to proceed without further delays.

He added; “NSFAS remains grateful to the councils and management of all the institutions for their swift response and prioritisation of the accreditation of private accommodation providers.

We further call upon all Private Accommodation Providers to apply for accreditation in order for them to be able to offer student accommodation for NSFAS beneficiaries.”