- Higher Education Blade Nzimande has urged universities to expedite verifying the details of students with the service provider due to make laptop deliveries.
- Nzimande said while 170 000 devices were ordered, 90 060 had already arrived in the country.
- The remaining devices will arrive in July and September.
While the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has to date ordered 170 000 laptops, universities, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are urged to urgently verify students' details.
On Wednesday, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said 170 000 devices were ordered from an appointed service provider.
He added 90 060 had already arrived in the country and were ready for distribution.
Nzimande said the remaining number of devices was expected to arrive in mid-July and September.
He was speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on measures in post-school education and training amid the Level 4 lockdown as the country grapples with the third Covid-19 wave.
"To date, university student information as per the NSFAS portal has been slow due to universities not timeously verifying student details on the NSFAS portal.
"A total of 1 846 students' information has been shared with the provider, of which 1 123 has been delivered to four universities, namely the University of Pretoria, University of Free State, Durban University of Technology and the University of Mpumalanga," Nzimande said.
News24 previously reported NSFAS ordered 180 000 laptops, although a survey indicated 15 000 university students would need them.
These figures were in a report of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology on its oversight visit to NSFAS' head office on 18 May.
NSFAS CEO Andile Nongogo told the committee the entity had undertaken a survey to determine the extent and demand of laptops for students.
Nongogo said results from the survey showed only 15 000 university students indicated they would need laptops, though the entity ordered 180 000.
News24 also previously reported Nzimande announced in April 2020 that laptops would be provided to assist students "as part of a multimodal teaching and learning" during the pandemic.
Tablet
He also previously stated monitoring reports indicated 68% of students required either a laptop or tablet.
On Wednesday, Nzimande urged universities to contact NSFAS through its portal to verify students' details, adding it was crucial the institutions prioritised the process.
He said while TVET college students did not order their devices via the NSFAS portal, the scheme would prioritise delivery to them.
A list of at least 46 846 students had been shared with the service provider for delivery of the devices.
Nzimande added students would be contacted to choose their delivery addresses because campuses were closed.
"Of the 46 846, a total of 183 has been delivered to South Cape TVET college and 86 for Central JHB TVET."
He said teaching and learning at universities would continue online amid Level 4, adding
TVET colleges would also be going into remote learning when they reopened.