Seeing the past and taking hold of the future: A NSFAS perspective on learning experiences in financial aid Fiona Lewis Senior Manager: Loans and Bursaries

“In financial aid, we are just implementing the relationship between education and development - when you develop the individual, you develop the family” (Mr Khaya Matiso)

What have we contributed? How much funding has been administered? YearHow much? 2001 R R R R R R R R R R A grand total of R

What have we contributed? How many students have been assisted? Loan YearNo. of StudentsNo. new Students% growthNo of StudentsNo new Students All institutionsUniversity only % % % % % % % % % TOTALS

What success can we show? Of the students whose first loan was in 2001: – have dropped out, have graduated, and 1680 are still studying – students have settled their accounts – are employed in the formal sector

What success can we show? Of the students whose first loan was in 2002: – have dropped out, have graduated and 2468 are still studying – have settled their accounts – are employed in the formal sector

What success can we show? Of the students whose first loan was in 2003: – have dropped out, have graduated and 3929 are still studying – have settled their accounts – have found employment in the formal sector

What success can we show? Of the students whose first loan year was 2004: – have graduated, have dropped out and are still studying – have settled their accounts – have found employment in the formal sector

What success can we show? Of the students whose first loan year was in 2005, – have graduated, have dropped out and are still studying – have settled their accounts – are employed in the formal sector

What success can we show? Of the students whose first loan was in 2006, – have graduated, have dropped out and are still studying – have settled their accounts – have found employment in the formal sector

What success can we show? Of the students whose first loan was in 2007, – are still studying, 7417 have graduated and have dropped out – have settled their accounts (also as a result of the increase in the number of bursaries in 2007) – have found employment in the formal sector

What success can we show? Of the students whose first loan year was in 2008, – are still studying, 2942 have graduated, but have dropped out – are employed in the formal sector Of the students whose first loan year was in 2009, – are still studying, have graduated, but have dropped out – 944 are employed in the formal sector

But what about the failures? High numbers of students who have dropped out: – If this is correct, is this because of financial exclusion or other factors? – Are we doing enough to monitor and identify students at risk for dropping out? Significantly high numbers of students whose first loans were in the first half of the decade who are still studying? – Is this an indicator of poor reporting or students pursuing careers as students? – Are we doing enough to monitor and identify students who are struggling?

“universities should be judged on the quality of the student experience” (Prof Marcus Balintulo)

BUT, where is the student voice at a conference of this nature? Should we not be including students as strategic partners in furthering the achievement of our shared goals?

“there is a need to develop a deliberate intervention to resource the universities” (Prof Marcus Balintulo)

How do we do this? Resourcing – infrastructure, technology and people power – What is NSFAS’ role? – What is FAPSA’s role? Strengthening best practice – What is NSFAS’s role? What is FAPSA’s role? How do we support each other? Improving the dialogue between NSFAS and the universities and FETCs

“Sometimes as policy makers, we pronounce without looking at what will work” (Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize)

Funding plans for 2011/12: In brief Total value to be administered DBE – Funza LushakaR DBE – Funza Lushaka EUR DSD – Social WorkR DHET – DisabilityR DHET – FETR DHET – GeneralR DHET – TeacherR DHET - NatSkillsR DHET – Final YearR Other fundsR NEW FUNDING DHET – Historic DebtR DHET- Postgraduate FundingR REVISED TOTALR

“The tendency to throw money at all problems is not going to be effective – we need to know what we are going to do with the money” (Dr JJ Mbana)

Funding plans for 2011/12: In brief Circular Notices 2 and 4 – Final Year Programme National FAO Workshop 21 January and 10 March 2011 Circular Notice 7 – New funding programmes FET Circular Notice 1 – Report 191 and NCV National FET Workshop 11 February 2011 Planned Regional workshops in August (universities) and Sept/Oct (FETCs) Planned National FAO workshop in October

“the introduction of free education is a complex mandate” (Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize) In concluding,