Overview

The National Skills Fund (NSF) is a public entity established by the government in 1999 and reports to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

The NSF provides funding for skills development initiatives that are identified by the National Skills Development Plan 2030 as national priorities, are related to the achievement of the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998, or considered to be an activity undertaken by the Minister to achieve a standard of good practice in terms of skills development.

The NSF’s funding focus and skills development portfolio is two-pronged: a significant allocation of the NSF’s annual and medium-term budget is aimed towards education and training initiatives such as bursaries and scholarships, learnership and skills programmes, and workplace-based learning; and NSF funding is also aimed at improving the post-school, education and training system, with a focus on capacity building, investing in skills infrastructure, research and innovation.