Classes for both first-year and senior students at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, are set to commence on Tuesday (06/04).
Programmes were disrupted in March by students who protested over financial aid.
Seithati Semenokane, CUT spokesperson, confirmed the start of the programme and added that the virtual orientation will take place today (31/03).
According to Semenokane, students who have registered have received their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances.
She said all students will still be allowed to register until tomorrow (01/04).
Late registrations will be allowed until 13 April.
According to Semenokane, students can register irrespective of their outstanding student debt, on the condition that they sign the acknowledgement of debt form and submit the required documentation.
“There will not be a financial block on academically deserving returning students with a combined household income of less than R600 000,” she said.
She added that there will be no financial block on any first-year student.
“Based on the household income level of students, minimum initial payments will be reduced and, in some cases, not required.”
- To ensure the success of the 2021 academic programme, the University of the Free State (UFS) also implemented numerous measures regarding financial support to students.
Prof. Francis Petersen, rector and vice-chancellor of the UFS, announced that all students without NSFAS bursaries who have outstanding debt of up to R20 000 would be allowed to register provisionally. Students who live off-campus, however, needed to pay R2 050, while students who live in residences had to pay R7 290.
Furthermore, all final-year students without NSFAS funding who have outstanding debt of up to R25 000 would be allowed to register provisionally.
All students with outstanding debt, but who have approved funding from NSFAS for 2021, were able to register without any payment.
According to Petersen, certain faculties had already registered 100% of their senior undergraduate students by 19 March, while the registration rate of other faculties had been above 80%.
Based on the household income level of students, minimum initial payments will be reduced – Seithati Semenokane
