Chairperson, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme has requested institutions to provide information on underspending in order to redistribute funds to needy students within the current academic year, that is those funds that have not been spent. The Department of Higher Education and Training has also been monitoring this matter very closely. Secondly, as I have pointed out before, I appointed a review committee to look into the National Student Financial Aid Scheme in July 2009, and I expect the report before the end of this year.
The overall purpose of the review is to assess the strengths and shortcomings of the current scheme and to be advised on the short, medium and long-term needs of student financial aid in order to promote the twin goals of equity of access and the provision of free undergraduate education for students from working class and poor communities who cannot afford further or higher education.
The review will evaluate different modules of student financial aid and make recommendations on the policy and operational changes required to ensure the effective and efficient achievement of these goals, which will enable South Africa to produce graduates with the qualifications and skills required to build our developmental state. Ngiyabonga. [Thank you.] [Applause.]