Symbolic Violence Under a Liberal Welfare State Crisis? Reviewing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)

Bibliographic Data

ID8020599
AuthorsPedro Mzileni (0000-0002-0958-5151, University of Zululand, corresponding author), Qhama Noveve (0009-0009-5473-4169, Nelson Mandela University)
Year2025
Volume55
Issue1
Pages113-128
Publication date2025-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociety in Transition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1028-9852 • E-ISSN: 2072-1978
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/21528586.2025.2460638
OpenAlexW4407894666
LanguageEN
References cited24

This paper provides a critical study of the twofold National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) policy: as a student loan (1999–2017) and as a student grant (2018–current). This review is located in the broader public higher education policy landscape adopted in postcolonial South Africa concerning student access. Two theories frame the study: Fanon’s postcolonial theory and Bourdieu’s symbolic violence theory. The data being analysed is generated from personal experiences, policy document reviews, and interviews. We make three findings: NSFAS was initially designed from a market-orientated doctrine by a postcolonial and liberal welfare state; its implementation crisis subjects students to symbolic violence; and it has systematically improved and matured since 2018, but still has remaining challenges that disable it from delivering the promise of higher education transformation. This contribution extends perspective concerning policy options and existing research on higher education studies

Economics · Financial crisis · Keynesian economics · Political science · Politics · Programming language · Scheme (mathematics · Sociology · State (computer science · Welfare · Welfare state · Computer Science · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism · Law · Mathematics · Public Administration · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics

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