Nearly R4bn earmarked for ‘missing middle’ students in 2024

South African scheme targets those ineligible for bursaries who still struggle to pay for university

South Africa will spend 3.8 billion rand (US$200m) this year on a loan scheme targeting students whose families earn too much to qualify for study bursaries, yet battle to afford education, the country’s higher education minister has said.

Unveiling the first phase of the country’s new “comprehensive student funding model” on 14 January, Blade Nzimande (pictured) said the move would help the so-called “missing middle” students to access education.