Women’s Month 2025: Empowering Women Through Education and Inclusive Economies

Women’s Month in South Africa is a time to honour the resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape families, communities, and the nation.
This year’s theme, Building Resilient Economies for All, speaks directly to the role education plays in giving women equal opportunities.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), as mandated by the
Department of Higher Education and Training,
supports this vision by funding thousands of women every year. By removing financial barriers, NSFAS ensures that women from low-income households gain access to higher
education, which is critical for economic inclusion. If you want to know if you qualify for funding, use our
NSFAS Eligibility Checker.

Why Women’s Education Matters

• Studies by the World Bank show that every additional year of schooling increases a woman’s future earnings by up to 20 percent.
• According to Stats SA, women make up more than half of university enrolments in South Africa, but many rely on financial aid to complete their studies.
• Educated women are more likely to secure employment, contribute to household income, and uplift future generations.

NSFAS’s Role in Building Resilient Economies

• NSFAS funds tuition, accommodation, transport, and learning materials, giving women the support they need to succeed academically.
• By targeting historically disadvantaged groups, NSFAS directly addresses inequalities that limit women’s economic participation.
• The scheme works with universities and TVET colleges to create safer, inclusive environments for female students.

Voices of Women in Higher Education

Women funded by NSFAS often describe education as life-changing. It opens pathways to careers in science, engineering, health, and business—fields
where women’s representation is essential for balanced growth. Learn more about the support available by reading our
TVET College Funding Guide.

A Shared Commitment

This Women’s Month, NSFAS reaffirms its responsibility: to fund, protect, and uplift women in education. When women succeed academically, they strengthen
families, industries, and the wider economy.

Together, we rise. When women are supported, entire communities thrive.