Only 3,102 students out of over 53,000 who applied for NSFAS missing-middle loans in 2026 received approval. The low approval rate has sparked concerns about the government's ability to support financially disadvantaged students. The NSFAS, which provides financial aid to students from low-income families, faced delays in processing applications. Many applicants reported long waiting times and unclear communication from the agency. The discrepancy between the number of applications and approvals has raised questions about the efficiency of the funding system. Critics argue that the slow response may leave many students without the financial support they need to continue their studies.