At least 67 academically performing learners from disadvantaged backgrounds who pass Grade 12 at the end of this year will receive full bursaries from Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, as part of his contribution to the Nelson Mandela International Day on July 18.
However, the number will most likely be more, as it has happened in the past two years where the number of beneficiary learners for both 2010 and 2011 went far beyond the targeted 67.
A total of 295 bursaries have been awarded to Grade 12 learners so far, made up of 95 learners from Limpopo, 100 from the Northern Cape and another 100 from the Eastern Cape. In rand value, the cost of the financial support comes to an estimated R16 million for the learners from the 2010 and 2011 Matric classes.
All these learners from impoverished backgrounds are now studying in various South African institutions of higher education and training, mostly for degrees in critical and scarce skills.
Minister Nzimande, will be at the Vuselela Further Education and Training College in
Taung in the north West Province this year, leading his department in personally
interacting with Grade 12 learners for his 67-minutes’ contribution to changing the lives of the youth for the better.
Besides those who will receive the bursaries on passing Matric, all the learners
attending the Minister’s Mandela Day Career Guidance Festival will leave armed with
valuable information, practical advice and career guidance related to career choices, as well as funding options to realise those career choices.
“Our aim for participating on this day, in honour of a great icon, is to create opportunities for all learners, particularly those from impoverished schools, to access institutions of higher education and training by providing career guidance related to career choices, so that accessing and getting quality education and training, may become a reality for them as well,” Minister Nzimande said.
The Mandela Day Career Guidance Festival, which has become an annual Ministerial
Flagship Project, has always targeted rural and disadvantaged areas with the aim of actively directing young people towards becoming central to the envisaged skilled and capable workforce that supports an inclusive growth path in the country.
Members of the Media are invited:
Date: Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Time: 10h00
Venue: Vuselela FET College, Taung Campus in the North West
RSVP: Bridget on 0782914438 or Fatima on 0837529707 by Monday 16th July 2012.
Minister Nzimande in Taung to open more doors of higher education and training for Mandela Day campaign
