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The Eastern Cape Provincial Executive has provided a R50 million lifeline to students who have not received their graduation certificates because of outstanding student debt.
In a statement on Wednesday, Bhisho said that this injection for 2023, will bring the value of the fund allocated for this intervention, to about R90 million since its inception in 2020.
The Eastern Cape government said 4778 students received this type of assistance so far.
"The amount will be shared among the four universities in the province i.e. Fort Hare (R15 million), Nelson Mandela (R10 million), Rhodes (R5 million), and Walter Sisulu (R20 million); according to their financial status and enrollment figures. Close to 2500 students are expected to get support in 2023 through this funding."
Bhisho government spokesperson, Khuselwa Rantjie, said the funds will prioritise students who completed their studies between 2020 and 2022, but cannot graduate and receive their certificates due to historic debt.
She said these funds are administered directly by the individual universities in terms of a Memorandum of Understanding concluded with the Eastern Cape Provincial Government.
"The challenge of the “missing middle” students, those who do not qualify for NSFAS, but struggle to afford higher education fees is real. While the national government is working on strategies to comprehensively deal with the challenge, it is critical for us to support these students in the meantime. Some need to pay their debt so they can graduate and enter the job market," said Premier Mabuyane.
