Latest news with #Carrim
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
How NSFAS intends eliminating student accommodation challenges
Students protested over the lack of accommodation earlier this year when universities opened. Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Newspapers National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) acting chief executive officer, Waseem Carrim, on Wednesday said the entity undertook the student accommodation pilot project without a necessary feasibility study, without an appropriate risk assessment, capacity building policy guideline or legal framework. This emerged when Nsfas provided an update to the portfolio committee on higher education and training regarding student accommodation challenges. Carrim said there are three levels of accommodation: on-campus institution-owned and managed accommodation, private accredited student accommodation and private unaccredited accommodation. For the 2025 academic year, NSFAS had accredited about 326 000 beds, received about 152 000 applications and about 126 000 students have been onboarded in that process. They paid 3800 extra accommodation providers representing over 100 000 students. To date, the disbursements are about R1.3 billion. 'If we reflect on the challenges with student accommodation, NSFAS undertook the student accommodation pilot project without a necessary feasibility study, without an appropriate risk assessment, capacity building policy guideline or legal framework,' Carrim said. 'We would like the function to go back to institutions, but we have to do it in a way that's fair, equitable and transparent, that doesn't seem to be just shifting the problem from NSFAS to institutions. We come up with a solution that resolves the ongoing challenges for the long term,' Carrim explained. To resolve challenges, Carrim said they are creating an internal dispute resolution mechanism so landlords and students do not feel like they always need to go outside of the institution. 'With student accommodation, right now, we seem to be in a firefighting mode as we try to resolve the issue. So as far as possible, we are working on every single complaint that we receive to be able to assist individuals in resolving those issues,' Carrim said. Carrim said they have to confirm that the students who are staying in those residences are indeed students. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'We are picking up too many instances where students are living in accommodation as NSFAS students, but we don't have registration data,' Carrim said. In terms of the way forward, Carrim said that from April 1, the function was reallocated out of the corporate services unit and placed under the CEO's office, which was a decision taken under administration, to drive the ministerial directive on student accommodation. 'We have appointed ENS Africa which is undertaking a comprehensive legal review of the student accommodation pilot project that can provide a way forward on NSFAS's roles and responsibilities in terms of legislation, primarily the NSFAS Act, as well as reviewing all of the contractual agreements entered into with the solution partners and accreditation partners,' Carrim said. He said they will meet with relevant stakeholders in May for the development of the transitional framework for the handover of student accommodation back to institutions by the end of the 2026 academic year. Among other issues, Carrim said NSFAS received over a million applications for the 2025 academic application cycle. 'If we reflect on our disbursement schedule, because we are reporting both on the 2024 and the 2025 academic year, if we look at our final numbers for 2024, we would have dispersed the total of R51.4 billion against the budget of R46.6 billion,' Carrim said. 'This is a huge challenge for the organisation in terms of the demands for higher education far exceeding, even at an expanded level, the ability of NSFAS to support.' 'In 2025 to date up to the end of April, we've already distributed R16,3 billion to the sector both at university and at TVET level, and those are mainly upfront payments to ensure the stability of the sector,' Carrim continued. 'If we look at our projections for 2025, we have 597 600 registered students in the university sector, of which we have an allocated budget of R39.2 billion. The projected cost based on numbers today is R47.1 billion.' Cape Times
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
NSFAS faces R5 billion budget overrun in student accommodation for 2024/25
Students with their suitcases highlight the ongoing challenges of accommodation. Earlier this year, students protested over the lack of housing when universities reopened. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) went nearly R5 billion over its budget for student accommodation in 2024/25, it said, while giving an update to the portfolio committee on higher education and training on Wednesday. The acting chief executive officer, Waseem Carrim, elaborated on the complexities of managing student accommodation and the steps NSFAS is taking to address these issues. Carrim said there are three levels of accommodation: on-campus institution-owned and managed accommodation, private accredited student accommodation, and private unaccredited accommodation. Carrim said that for the 2025 academic year, NSFAS accredited about 326 000 beds, received around 152 000 applications and 126 000 students have been onboarded in that process. They paid 3 800 extra accommodation providers representing over 100 000 students. To date, the disbursements are about R1.3 billion. 'If we reflect on the challenges with student accommodation, NSFAS undertook the student accommodation pilot project without a necessary feasibility study, without an appropriate risk assessment, capacity building policy guideline or legal framework,' Carrim said. To resolve challenges, Carrim said they are creating an internal dispute resolution mechanism so landlords and students do not feel like they always need to go outside of the institution. 'With student accommodation, right now, we seem to be in a firefighting mode as we try to resolve the issue. So as far as possible, we are working on every single complaint that we receive to be able to assist individuals in resolving those issues,' Carrim said. Carrim said they have to confirm that the students who are staying in those residences are confirmed students. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ On the way forward, Carrim said that from April 1, the function was reallocated out of the corporate services unit and placed under the CEO's office, which was a decision taken under administration, to drive the ministerial directive on student accommodation. He said they will meet with relevant stakeholders this month for the development of the transitional framework for the handover of student accommodation back to institutions by the end of the 2026 academic year. Among other issues, Carrim said NSFAS received over a million applications for the 2025 academic application cycle. 'If we reflect on our disbursement schedule, because we are reporting both on the 2024 and the 2025 academic year, if we look at our final numbers for 2024, we would have dispersed the total of R51.4 billion against the budget of R46.6 billion,' Carrim said. 'This is a huge challenge for the organisation in terms of the demands for higher education far exceeding, even at an expanded level, the ability of NSFAS to support.' 'In 2025 to date up to the end of April, we've already distributed R16.3 billion to the sector both at university and at TVET level, and those are mainly upfront payments to ensure the stability of the sector,' Carrim said. 'If we look at our projections for 2025, we have 597 600 registered students in the university sector, of which we have an allocated budget of R39.2 billion. The projected cost based on numbers today is R47.1 billion.' Cape Argus
TimesLIVE
07-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
NSFAS in 'firefighting mode' over student accommodation crisis
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) acting CEO Waseem Carrim acknowledged ongoing problems with student accommodation, citing inadequate planning and risk assessment before implementing the student accommodation pilot project. Nsfas launched the pilot project during the 2022/23 academic year to ensure that qualifying students were provided with conducive private accommodation. Carrim said that NSFAS had undertaken the project without doing necessary feasibility studies, capacity building, policy guidelines, or a legal framework, resulting in significant issues within the system. This came as NSFAS briefed MPs on updates related to resolving students' appeals, funding decisions for the 2025 academic year, disbursement of funding and allowances, the close-out report, student accommodation and related matters. Highlighting the structural problems within the student accommodation sector, Carrim pointed out the shortage of safe and secure student housing in South Africa. 'If you go to the University of Fort Hare today, Alice campus, there are insufficient beds, which means we end up paying the students an allowance. And say, go and find your own which is not a good way to run the system, but we must recognise that even where student accommodation exists, we do not have an effective and efficient distribution system of allocating, placing and paying for that student accommodation.' Carrim noted that in 2024, about 2,500 accommodation providers, representing about 81,000 students, were paid about R2.9bn for private accommodation. However, in 2025, though payments had been made to 3,828 providers representing more than 100,000 students, the disbursements amounted to about R1.3bn, significantly lower than the previous year. To address the immediate issues, Carrim said, NSFAS had finalised the 2024 reconciliation of unpaid student accommodation and instituted a 2024 claims process, with payments expected by May 31. Carrim said many small and medium businesses could not survive without NSFAS payments if there were no payments for two or three months. 'On the other side of that, we also have a fiduciary obligation to confirm that the students who are staying in those residences are confirmed students. We are picking up too many instances where students are living in accommodation as NSFAS students, but we don't have registration data,' he said. Further, Carrim acknowledged challenges related to unaccredited accommodation allowances, which were capped at R2,500 to encourage landlords to upgrade facilities to meet accreditation standards. He noted that this cap led to protests, such as at the University of the Free State, prompting NSFAS to grant a deviation for the 2025 academic year. Addressing the Eastern Cape situation, Carrim said that a system challenge had caused some landlords to receive only one month of disbursement after being owed four for months. He assured that a top-up payment was scheduled for May 2 . A member of the portfolio committee on higher education, Sedukanelo Tshepo Louw, recommended that by the end of May, institutions should have NSFAS officers on-site so that students could address their frustrations directly with them. 'Unaccredited private accommodation should not be paid for, however, providers should be encouraged to seek accreditation,' Louw said.
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Student accommodation issues: NSFAS outlines challenges and future plans
Students protested over the lack of accommodation earlier this year when universities opened. Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Newspapers The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provided an insightful update to the portfolio committee on higher education and training regarding student accommodation challenges during a meeting on Wednesday. The acting chief executive officer, Waseem Carrim, elaborated on the complexities of managing student accommodation and the steps NSFAS is taking to address these issues. Carrim said there are three levels of accommodation: on-campus institution-owned and managed accommodation, private accredited student accommodation and private unaccredited accommodation. Carrim said that for the 2025 academic year, NSFAS had accredited about 326,000 beds, received about 152,000 applications and about 126,000 students have been onboarded in that process. They paid 3,800 extra accommodation providers representing over 100,000 students. To date, the disbursements are about R1,3 billion. 'If we reflect on the challenges with student accommodation, NSFAS undertook the student accommodation pilot project without a necessary feasibility study, without an appropriate risk assessment, capacity building policy guideline or legal framework,' Carrim said. 'We would like the function to go back to institutions, but we have to do it in a way that's fair, equitable and transparent, that doesn't seem to be just shifting the problem from NSFAS to institutions. We come up with a solution that resolves the ongoing challenges for the long term,' Carrim explained. To resolve challenges, Carrim said they are creating an internal dispute resolution mechanism so landlords and students do not feel like they always need to go outside of the institution. 'With student accommodation, right now, we seem to be in a firefighting mode as we try to resolve the issue. So as far as possible, we are working on every single complaint that we receive to be able to assist individuals in resolving those issues,' Carrim said. Carrim said they have to confirm that the students who are staying in those residences are confirmed students. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'We are picking up too many instances where students are living in accommodation as NSFAS students, but we don't have registration data,' Carrim said. In terms of the way forward, Carrim said that from April 1, the function was reallocated out of the corporate services unit and placed under the CEO's office, which was a decision taken under administration, to drive the ministerial directive on student accommodation. 'We have appointed ENS Africa which is undertaking a comprehensive legal review of the student accommodation pilot project that can provide a way forward on NSFAS's roles and responsibilities in terms of legislation, primarily the NSFAS Act, as well as reviewing all of the contractual agreements entered into with the solution partners and accreditation partners,' Carrim said. He said they will meet with relevant stakeholders in May for the development of the transitional framework for the handover of student accommodation back to institutions by the end of the 2026 academic year. Among other issues, Carrim said NSFAS received over a million applications for the 2025 academic application cycle. 'If we reflect on our disbursement schedule, because we are reporting both on the 2024 and the 2025 academic year, if we look at our final numbers for 2024, we would have dispersed the total of R51,4 billion against the budget of R46,6 billion,' Carrim said. 'This is a huge challenge for the organisation in terms of the demands for higher education far exceeding, even at an expanded level, the ability of NSFAS to support.' 'In 2025 to date up to the end of April, we've already distributed R16,3 billion to the sector both at university and at TVET level, and those are mainly upfront payments to ensure the stability of the sector,' Carrim continued. 'If we look at our projections for 2025, we have 597,600 registered students in the university sector, of which we have an allocated budget of R39,2 billion. The projected cost based on numbers today is R47,1 billion.'
