Chairperson, this is a question about the Terms of Reference of the Review Committee on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, NSFAS. The Minister of Higher Education and Training established a ministerial committee for the review of NSFAS on 10 June 2009 to review the efficacy of the scheme. The full terms of reference are contained in Government Gazette No 32317. The overall purpose of the review is to assess the strength and shortcomings of the current scheme and advise on the short- medium- and long-term needs for student financial aid and make recommendations in this regard.
Some of the scope that we expect the review to cover would include conducting a needs analysis of students who will require financial aid in the short, medium and long terms, taking into account the government's commitment to providing free undergraduate education to students from poor families who would otherwise not be able to pursue further or higher education.
We've asked this committee to also assess the nature and extent of former and current students blacklisted by NSFAS and universities and recommend appropriate action to be taken to deal with the problem. The report is due within six months from the day that the committee commences its work at the end of June 2009, and it is envisaged that the report will be submitted to the Minister early in December 2009.
The committee is currently engaging with different stakeholders. As this is a preliminary investigative phase, a meeting with the portfolio committee will be scheduled at a later date. The number of students that were supported in 2006 was 107 586; in 2007 it was 113 616; and in 2008 it was approximately 120 000 as the data for this year is being finalised.
The information on the number of students that have graduated or dropped out in each of these years is not readily available as tracer studies are still to be completed. The amount that has been allocated by the department to NSFAS has grown from R500 million in 2002, to R2,71 billion in 2011-12, including the Fundza Lushaka teacher bursaries and FET college bursaries.
The number of students that have been assisted in higher education institutions since 2002 has grown from 86 147 to approximately 120 000 in 2008. The demand on the scheme, however, continues to exceed amounts allocated, and this, in part, was the reason for the review. Thank you.