Presentation to portfolio committee of higher education and training
Presenter: S MlotshwaPresident: SACPODate: 28 August 2019
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
2019/08/29
1
TABLE OF CONTENT
BackgroundAllocation of upfront payments to TVET colleges in 2019and challenges experiencedRoll-out of the student-centred model in the TVETProgress with the payment of outstanding allowancesGeneral Challenges experienced from NSFAS
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
2019/08/29
2
Background
The TVET sector is in general financially constrained due to the following- Colleges largely provide for students from poor familiesThe infrastructure structure grant is tied up in the DepartmentThere is an increased demand for access in the TVET sector which is not reciprocated by increased fundingLack of the appropriate funding framework for TVET collegesThe prevailing funding pressure continue to place pressures on the personnel budget of the colleges and consequently constrains the ability of college to cater for college operations
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
2019/08/29
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Background
There were notable challenges experienced with the NSFAS online system, which resulted in most colleges reducing their enrolments numbers in the previous year.Most colleges were not able to recover part of the remaining 20% of the programme costs from the scheme due to challenges experienced from NSFASInsufficient funding allocation, particular for financially needy and academically deserving students is a major challengeDelays in disbursements has also caused student unrest in most colleges
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
2019/08/29
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Allocation of upfront payments for2019
This allocation is made by NSFAS to ease the financial pressure to the collegesUpon receiving it, the colleges the colleges are to use it for student tuition fees and their allowancesThey may only be utilised for funded studentsThere are difficulties in utilising these funds at the beginning of the academic year due to atediusprocess which often results on some students not being fundedThere has been an improvement for the current year and most colleges have received their upfront payment
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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Allocation of upfront payments for 2019
There are some allocations for both 2017 and 2018 in other colleges that cannot be allocated to studentsaccounts, due tolack of disbursement listfrom NSFAS.In most instances, colleges have received their upfront allocations, however they cant be allocated due unavailability of the provisionally approved listAs a result the accounts of students are still in Debit
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
2019/08/29
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Allocation of upfront payments forPrevious years: Challenges
Funding decisions were delayed in some colleges which resulted in upfront payment not utilisedNew students bursary applications that NSFAS could not retrieve from their systems which resulted on a student not being fundedReturning students who were not funded at the beginning of the academic year due to delays in student exam resultsStudents not signing their Schedule of Particulars on time, which resulted on institutions not paying the upfront allowances
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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Summary on upfront payment : Status Quo
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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Roll out of the new student centred model in the TVET sector
The system was introduced to ease the administrative burden and reduce delays in funds to studentsThe system proved to be good in theory, however the planning and readiness of NSFAS was not as goodA lot of processes were changed during the implementation stage of the modelLack of training and technical problems experienced have given rise to the student protests
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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Roll out of the new student centred model in the TVETsector: Challenges
Current effectof the2017 and 2018backlog could negatively impact on utilisation of the2019allocation;Dataintegration challenges delay sharing of data between Colleges and NSFAS;Inadequatecapacity to manage the significant increase in bursary funding;Networkchallenges during high volumes processing;Non-responsivenessof NSFAS to queries lodged by Colleges;Latedisbursement of allowances;andDelayedand inconsistent messaging to Colleges and students.Poorcommunication from NSFAS to institutions regarding disbursement of funds
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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Summary on the Roll-out of student centred model : Status Quo
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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PAYMENTS OF OUTSTANDING ALLOWANCES DUE TO STUDENTS IN THE TVET SECTOR
Collegeshave submitted allowances of all studentsthat are fundedandqualify for 2019with theregistration formsvia ITS and theportalHowever, colleges are yet to receiveany communicationfrom NSFAS ifthe allowances were approved or not.Allowanceswere already paid to returning students who were funded and qualifies)There are students who qualifies for allowances but due to their funding not yet confirmed by NSFAS, they could not get allowances. (Students are in need of the allowances and are struggling.)Students are being evicted from their residences and thishave and couldlead to protests and poor academic results.
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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Summary of outstanding allowances due to students
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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Any other challenges experience by the college related to the NSFAS
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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CONCLUSION: COLLEGE READINESS FOR 2020
The colleges have to contend with all the challenges mentioned above and prepare for 2020 regardlessSACPO has since done the following to ensure readiness to 2020Conducted fruitful discussions with NSFAS and DHET and strides were made. NSFAS will payproject managementfee to colleges to administer student allowancesParticipated in the review of bursary rules and guidelinesColleges are now discouraging walk-ins and implementing early registrations in the prior year
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
2019/08/29
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Recommendations
NSFAS must improve their bursary application portal urgentlyUrgently improve on the funding decision process of returning studentsCommunication between NSFAS and TVET’s needto be improvedNSFAS to assign a delegated persons to work with each TVETcollegeor pay colleges the management feesGive TVET’ colleges access to download registrations already uploaded, as NSFAS promised to send them weekly to noavailMost importantly, NSFAS must pay the agreed management fees so that colleges are able to capacitate their bursary offices
2019/08/29
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
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Thank you
Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and training
2019/08/29
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