The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has received a total 161 938 applications from students seeking funding for 2017 in universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges across the country.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has raised R100 million to support the studies of almost 2 500 missing middle students.
Government and business leaders have made a unanimous call to all stakeholders to help save the 2016 academic year while the engagements on fees continue.
Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande says he is hopeful that the current consultations with all stakeholders on the 2017 university fees will conclude successfully, with a formal announcement expected to be made in mid-September.
The process to develop a new funding model to help poor and the so-called “missing middle” students is underway.
Government has made money available to clear the historic debt of students who qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).