The role of the national student financial aid scheme in addressing food insecurity at South African universities

Abstract

In the post-1994 period, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been hailed for affording students from disadvantaged backgrounds access to higher learning institutions. Research has been conducted by various researchers and government officials on the issue of NSFAS and its role in promoting attendance at tertiary institutions. However, there is little research on NSFAS and the role it plays in student food insecurity and hunger. Students at universities are challenged with issues of food insecurity despite the food allowances provided by NSFAS. This research study aims to reflect on the apparent challenges of NSFAS in terms of addressing the issue of hunger and food security at one South African university, the University of the Western Cape (UWC).