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Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)

Notices

Directions: National framework for tuition and accommodation fees for academic year 2020 in the public higher education institutions

5. Directions

 

Tuition Fees

 

5.1 In terms of tuition fees, the 2020 Academic Year is conceptualised as a "package" regardless of its length.

 

5.2 This means that the cost for tuition should remain at the same level for the 2020 Academic Year regardless of the time frame for a student to complete and the mode of delivery for completion.

 

5.3 NSFAS payments for tuition fees to institutions will be made on the basis of the original agreed tuition fee.

 

Accommodation Fees

 

5.4 The cost for university-owned accommodation remains at the same level for the academic year, regardless of its length, capped to the end of March 2021. This assumes that while there will be periods of non-occupation, most students will return for a period of time to complete the academic year.

 

5.5 NSFAS payments for university-owned accommodation remain at the same original level as with tuition fees.

 

5.6 The cost for university-leased accommodation remains at the same level for the 2020 Academic Year, regardless of its length, subject to an agreement that the original fee would be paid for both the 2020 academic year and the 2021 academic year (with an agreed inflation-linked increase for 2021). This means that wherever possible, the costs of both academic years would be conceptualised as a package, and payments spread out over the full period.

 

5.7 Where there are periods of non-occupation of accommodation, monthly payments can be reduced, based on a payment regime that spreads out the agreed costs over the extended 2020 academic year.

 

5.8 In relations to individually-leased private accommodation, where students are responsible for making payments themselves, the above principle should apply in respect of university accredited and registered private accommodation as far as possible.

 

5.9 NSFAS allowances have continued to b paid to students during the lockdown period and therefore NSFAS students are expected to pay private accommodation providers in terms of the original leave agreements. However, wherever possible, institutions should facilitate agreements with providers on behalf of students to reduce the payments for periods of non-occupation, but with the full payment spread over the extended academic year.

 

NSFAS allowances for accommodation

 

5.10 NSFAS will continue to disburse the accommodation allowances to beneficiaries, up to the agreed costs for the ten months of the academic year.

 

5.11 It is therefore expected that NSFAS beneficiaries in receipt of accommodation allowances must continue to pay private accommodation providers in terms of their agreements with lease providers, in line with the framework agreed, to reduce monthly payments and spread the costs over the Academic Year 2020.

 

5.12 It must be noted that there is currently a process underway to model and plan for any additional academic year costs for NSFAS-funded students. Currently, no funding has been allocated or approved for additional academic year costs in 2020.