NSFAS board approves 6 projects to restore governance, address challenges within scheme

JOHANNESBURG - The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board has approved six key projects to restore governance and address long-standing administrative challenges within the organisation.

During a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, board chairperson, Karen Stander, said the projects included a revised operating model and a loan management strategy.

The session also addressed challenges linked to the 2025 academic year, providing updates on student applications, allowances, and ICT systems.

Earlier in August, newly appointed Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela made NSFAS his top priority, promising to stabilise the troubled scheme.

He added that a clear framework would be established within three months, led by a dedicated task team.

On Wednesday, Stander confirmed that six turnaround projects had now been approved to drive this process forward.

These include organisational design and realignment, a loan management strategy, sustainable funding framework a transitional framework for student accommodation, ict assessmentand digital transformation, and a revised operating model.

"We are firmly committed to dedicating our resources to the critical priorities with the conviction that such focus will enable NSFAS to emerge as a transformative force for the good."

She added that the projects were aimed at addressing governance failures, reputational damage, and delivery backlogs.