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By Bongani Nkosi 
15h ago
Johannesburg: Private student accommodation providers and universities hoping to pocket more money from students due to the extension of the current academic year until March 2021 are in shock.
In a bold directive, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has told public institutions and private residence operators that students should not be forced to shell out more than the fees stipulated in the leases signed earlier this year. .
The National Student Financial Aid Plan (NSFAS) will also not pay more for tuition and accommodation, as the 2020 academic year has been extended, Nzimande said.
The students left their rented rooms empty, he said. “The resulting lockdown from the Covid-19 pandemic in the higher education sector as of March 2020 has led to changes in the 2020 academic year.
“Most of the higher education students returned to their respective homes around March 2020.”
The payment of the 2020 fees should be extended to cover the period until March 2021, the minister’s directive said.
“The cost of accommodation leased by the university remains at the same level for the 2020 academic year, regardless of its duration, 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), ”he said.
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