Cape Town - As the enrolment of students within the public university sector was projected to remain high at 1.1 million for the 2023 academic year, plans were under way to increase student accommodation capacity.
First-time enrolments were expected to tally 196 324 nationally, with 66 073 of these within scarce skills areas.
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) Dr Thandi Lewin, the Central Application Clearing House (CACH) would continue in 2023 as a self service.
“There is high competition for spaces in universities. Meeting the minimum requirements does not mean a space for everyone that applies.
CACH is for students who have applied for a space at a university and have been declined.
The system will be implemented through the CAS Pilot in collaboration with the Central Application Office. It will run from January 25 after the release of the NSC results until the end of March 2023,” said Lewin.
Some institutions had low numbers of students accommodated in university-owned residences, with most students seeking accommodation privately.
Lewin said the verification process showed a number of worrying trends including attempts by landlords to increase the rates, protests triggered by unhygienic conditions at private residences and landlords not providing Wi-Fi as per the agreements.
“The 2023 Eligibility Criteria allows NSFAS to centralise the accreditation of private student accommodation, its grading and determination of value and costs for the listed accommodation.
“The policy aims to enforce compliance to the Minimum Norms and Standards for Students Housing.
“The 2023 policy puts in place considered controls that allow a split of the accommodation allowance to cater for services not provided where the accommodation falls short of the Minimum Norms and Standards. It allows NSFAS to enter lease negotiations on behalf of students and pay landlords directly,” said NSFAS chief operating officer Nthuseng Mphahlele.
NSFAS chief executive Andile Nongogo said last year the scheme spent about R13 billion on student accommodation.
“NSFAS is looking at public/private partnerships working closely with the National Treasury and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Also off take agreements, this is supported by a legal opinion that NSFAS sought.
It allows NSFAS to issue off take agreements to developers or institutions.
“The application process was opened and closed on November 10.
Allocations will be based on demand and points per the defined criteria.”
Cape Times