NSFAS Exceeds Funding Targets: More Than 1.7 Million Students Enrolled for 2025

Cape Town – The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has announced that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has surpassed its original funding goals.

Currently, NSFAS is providing support to 542,653 university students, which significantly exceeds the projected 417,938 beneficiaries.

Furthermore, more than 1.7 million students have enrolled in universities, TVET colleges, and CET institutions for the 2025 academic year, signifying the ongoing growth of post-school education in South Africa.

These statistics were disclosed during a Portfolio Committee briefing on DHET’s performance for the third quarter.

During the briefing on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Buti Manamela highlighted that the NSFAS funding achievement reflects the government’s dedication to enhancing access to higher education.

“Providing financial support to students from working-class and low-income backgrounds remains a high priority for this government,” stated Deputy Minister Manamela.

“Even with budget constraints, we have surpassed our initial NSFAS targets, meaning more students than ever can benefit from free higher education.”

While the department appreciates NSFAS’s ability to support more students, it recognizes persisting administrative issues, such as delays in disbursements and governance concerns.

The newly appointed NSFAS Board and Acting CEO are charged with executing necessary reforms to enhance the efficiency of allowance payments, improve student verification processes, and bolster institutional responsibility.

Total Enrolments for the 2025 Academic Year:

• Universities: 1,152,418 students enrolled (91.7% of the target)
• TVET Colleges: 587,671 students enrolled (94.8% of the target)
• CET Colleges: 97,951 students enrolled (significantly below the 388,782 target, necessitating urgent intervention)

While university and TVET enrolments remain robust, CET college enrolments have fallen short of expectations, highlighting the need for a more focused approach to expanding adult education opportunities.

Government’s Response & Key Interventions

The department has outlined several corrective actions to tackle these challenges:

• Enhancing NSFAS governance and administrative processes to ensure timely and efficient funding disbursement.
• Improving enrolment management strategies, including broader access at TVET colleges and enhancing pathways between CET institutions and formal qualifications.
• Aligning financial and infrastructure investments to address the increasing demand for higher education.

Ensuring That Funding Translates into Graduate Employability While acknowledging the rise in funding and enrolments, the department has also recognized concerns raised by the Portfolio Committee regarding the employability of graduates.

Deputy Minister Manamela indicated that further efforts are needed to ensure that students funded by NSFAS secure meaningful employment after graduation.

“Our focus is not only on expanding access but also on guaranteeing that students receive quality education leading to job opportunities,” Deputy Minister Manamela mentioned.

“In the upcoming months, we will concentrate on enhancing work-integrated learning, increasing collaborations with industry, and strengthening graduate tracking systems.”

The Portfolio Committee praised the department for broadening financial aid coverage while emphasizing the need for stronger accountability measures to ensure efficient use of funds.

The department reaffirmed its commitment to developing a more responsive, accessible, and transformative post-school education system.