New NSFAS board admits to receiving a 'baptism of fire' as it starts efforts to turn entity around
The board briefed Parliament’s higher education and training committee for the first time on Wednesday, where it laid out its plan to address system failures at the student aid scheme.
The NSFAS logo. Picture: @myNSFAS/Twitter
CAPE TOWN - The recently appointed National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board says it’s received a "baptism of fire" after starting work to turn the struggling entity around.
The board briefed Parliament’s higher education and training committee for the first time on Wednesday, where it laid out its plan to address system failures at the student aid scheme.
READ: NSFAS exceeded initial funding targets for 2025 by more than 120,000 students, MPs told
It has been tasked with addressing issues that include the defunding of students, incorrect disbursement of funds, and a student accommodation crisis.
The board’s first meeting with the committee comes during a time when MPs have raised concerns over student funding glitches.
These include the defunding of 10,000 students who end up losing accommodation and allowances.
Board chairperson, Dr Karen Stander, said it has not been an easy couple of months.
"And 65 days into this, I can say and confirm and say it’s indeed been a baptism of fire."
She also noted how NSFAS had funded millions of graduates last year and added more doctors this year.
"Chair, in 2025, we added to the 5.5 million graduates with fully qualified medical doctors."
She said their repositioning of NSFAS would shift their focus to serve more effectively and make it more than just a student loan scheme.