Abstract
This study considers how South African university students utilise their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) book allowance since the 2019 changes that allowed them to get it as cash allowance directly into their bank accounts instead of as a bookstore credit to purchase study books. The study applied the constrained choices theory as its theoretical framework. The study used a survey strategy to collect data from 358 randomly sampled university students, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using a questionnaire. The results showed that only 19.3% of the students used their book allowances for purchasing books. The results indicated pressures to misuse the allowances came from family commitments and living expenses. Students also bought ICT devices indicating both a substitution of traditional books for digital ones and pressure to keep up with new lifestyle needs. These pressures occurred with students from all genders, age groups and all faculties. However, expenditure patterns suggest that poorer students were more pressured into misusing the allocated funds. The study recommends weighted funding mechanisms that consider different poverty intensity levels among students, increasing support for affordable online academic content access, financial literacy support and enhancing accountability in funds utilisation.
Presenters
Victor H. MlamboLecturer, Public Policy, University of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
EDUCATION, SUPPORT, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, GOVERNMENT
