The new normal - UFS

How Covid-19 has changed how I pursue my education

Pre Covid-19, my education entailed entirely going to varsity and having face to face contact sessions from Monday to Friday. Then having the ability to go out with friends without worrying about the implications of such activities.

Now that has changed, with various measures being taken to limit the spread of the virus thus leading to a new normal in my varsity life. Online classes, and all round sanitizers around me. I have learnt to adapt and take it as it comes.

But before this huge transformation, schools and universities were closed. With little preparations for a pandemic. We all left our dorm rooms with the hope that this is just a ‘flu’, little did we know that it would only take us so long. The university introduced a fully fleshed e-learning curriculum to help us study while at home.

A new experience for us all. We now had to juggle chores with varsity work. Mind you, we were used to juggling our independent college life with our studies.

We were introduced to new platforms and technology immediately became a medium of exchange. Literally.

The lingo became so familiar that our lecturers would be mentioning how we need to sign the e-register and attend webinars.

Tests and Assessments all went online. A new experience for us all. We would be timed as normal and we would have to study as per requirement of the course.

Of course, there were challenges here and there with access to the applicable technology, network problems and of course some disturbances at home. Personally, I struggled with network connectivity, which meant I had to miss activities on somedays.

But I pushed and worked hard and learnt to adapt. It also meant I had to learn how to use the online tools that were the only option for me to pursue my education.

These tools were already existing and are often termed as the ‘distance learning approach’ but were not extensively used as they have been during this pandemic.

Moreover, because the pandemic has not ended, I am constantly adapting to this e-learning approach.

Currently, students are slowly returning to campuses and with this, I am learning a lot about the new normal in education and taking it as it comes.

What is NSFAS? The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)

What does NSFAS do?

Supports access to and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working-class families who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of studies at a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college. • Provides financial aid to eligible students who are studying or plan to study at any of the 50 TVET colleges or the 26 public universities in South Africa • Identifies students who qualify for the bursary • Provides bursaries to students

Who qualifies for NSFAS funding?

• All South African citizens • All SASSA grant recipients • Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per annum • Persons with disabilities with a combined household income of not more than R600 000 per annum • Students who started studying at a university before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum

What does the NSFAS bursary cover? • Registration • Tuition • Book allowance • Accommodation allowance • Transport allowance • Food allowance • Personal care allowance

Does the NSFAS bursary offer any additional support for students with disabilities? Yes, NSFAS further supports funded students with disabilities through an additional allowance that covers:

• Medical assessments • Assistive devices • Human support to cover for the cost of a caregiver, guide dog, scribe or tutor.

How, where and when can one apply for NSFAS?

The 2021 application season will be communicated through media, social media and the NSFAS website www.nsfas.org.za. Applications are submitted online through the NSFAS website: www.nsfas.org.za

To apply for NSFAS funding students must have a registered myNSFAS account. If you plan to study in 2021 and require support from NSFAS, you may open your myNSFAS account now to keep updated with the latest funding information.

Connect with us using the following channels:

National Student Financial Aid Scheme myNSFAS myNSFAS

NSFAS Connect: www.nsfas.org.za and log into your myNSFAS account