Gauteng bursaries provide financial relief for thousands of matriculants
Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) today handed over a total of 2 743 bursaries worth R180 000 00 to the province's top matric achievers.
These bursaries will go towards paying for the learners' tuition fees, accommodation and prescribed textbooks for the duration of their studies at institutions of their choice.
The bursaries form part of the Gauteng City Region Academy Bursary Scheme, an initiative that was launched by GPG in 2009, to provide financial assistance to disadvantaged learners in the province to improve their future and employability prospects.
The bursary scheme also ensures that young people have relevant skills required in the labour market, and it will increase and sustain a pool of economically suitable skills.
"Today we are here to witness a success story out of our 20 years of democracy where from 2009, 1 2401 have been beneficiaries and over 6 000 have completed their studies.
"In 2013 matric exams, 96 000 learners wrote, 87 000 learners passed -some of whom are here with us today," said Premier Nomvula Mokonyane during the handover ceremony which was broadcast live on SABC 2, on Monday as part of The New Age Business Breakfast.
One of the bursary recipients was the18-year-old Kgomotso Mtwazi from the Magaliesburg State School.
"I am happy and excited to be a beneficiary because I was not sure I would continue with my studies after matric because my mother is a domestic worker and my father is a gardener. Doing matric was a challenge, I had to make sacrifices but it paid off," said an elated Mtwazi.
Mtwazi will be studying towards a Bcom Accounting degree at the University of Witwatersrand (WITS).
"In December we had just over 3 000 learners from Gauteng who were funded by GPG in promoting skills development and in ensuring that we have working youth, and they have been absorbed into FET colleges and many of them have already been attached to businesses, others to government departments because the future of this country can be shaped by those who embrace and honour the value of education," said Premier Mokonyane.
The GCRA awards the top three learners from no-fee paying schools. They also offer bursaries to the top performing matriculants in the province, including top performing pupils with disabilities.
For more information contact:
Premier's spokesperson
Thebe Mohatle
Cell: 082 373 1146
