The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, will be hosting the 30th anniversary of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) tomorrow, the 1st December 2022.

The performance of NSFAS in achieving the goal of providing student access and success is remarkable, given the increase of loans and bursaries awarded for the poor and academically deserving students since the formation of the scheme.

The NSFAS funding increasing substantially from R21.4 million in 1991 to R441 million assisting 29 176 students in the 1999 academic year to almost 50 billion assisting more than 691,432 students for the 2022 academic year, with 462,983 being female and 227,072 being male students.

Government has set aside more than R80 billion for the next three years to ensure that prospective students from poor and working-class families with a combined household income of R350 000 per annum have access to post school education and training.

This is a massive investment in student support and an important government policy to support and transform the post school education and training system to be inclusive and accessible.

Members of the media are invited to join the Minister and the NSFAS Board and other dignitaries as follows:

Date: Thursday, 1st December 2022

Venue: Gallagher Convention Center, Hall 4

Time:17:00

Member of the media are request to confirm their attendance through Lehlohonolo Mphuthi@0619859474 or Maduvha Maseda @071 134 6357.

Issued by:

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Meiring Naude Road

Brummeria

Pretoria

Enquiries: Ishmael Mnisi 0660378859