Challenges and experiences of NSFAS-funded students after completing their studies

After 1994, the South African government increased higher education funding, with the aim to enhance its accessibility to deserving students, by utilising the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). This NSFAS funding was intentionally utilised to fund indigent higher education students from the less fortunate social classes, with the hope to achieve social justice and poverty alleviation to the targeted young people. The overall aim was to possibly increase their employability in the labour market. This study was conducted qualitatively, using a case study research design to explore the lives of the NSFAS-funded graduates from a low-income, rural, poverty-stricken district in South Africa, after they had graduated.15 graduates who were funded by NSFAS during their university years were purposefully sampled to provide answers to our semi structured, face- to-face interview questions. The study further explored the possible challenges faced by those graduates pertaining to their livelihoods and found that some of them struggled to find employment even with their qualifications. The challenges they continued to face included the not-so-good treatment from their communities; a challenge which led some of them to face mental health issues. Interestingly, however, all of the graduates ended up being employed. The study recommends possible improvement strategies on the disbursement of the NSFAS funds and also makes other recommendations for policy making on the support of indigent students’ access to higher education institutions.