By Kwanele Ntombela and Mendy Mtshali
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education and Shell Downstream South Africa launched a bursary programme that targets Mathematics and Science learners this week.
The KZN MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, and the Shell Downstream South Africa country chairperson, Aluwani Museisi, launched the Shell South African Bursary programme at Ndukwenhle High School in R section at Umlazi on 1 October.
The bursary programme aims to assist underprivileged learners who meet academic requirements of 70% and higher who wish to further their studies in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at institutions of higher learning.
Hlomuka said Shell will not only focus on funding STEM students, but also extend its outreach to students in other streams.
“Shell (has) promised us that a child in need of assistance will be helped. Although they might be focusing on Mathematics and Science, they can also help other students. They identify the necessity of the situation before funding the child,” he said.
Museisi said: “What is special about our bursary programme is that most bursaries just
focus only on tuition, but (ours) is comprehensive. We focus on the needs of someone and we make sure that we pay for tuition and living expenses. Also, we pay for flights, if you need them. We are looking for people who are excellent in terms of their academic focus. We are especially looking at mathematics and science since we see that is where we need more skills in the country, but if you do very well in other areas, we will still be open for funding.”
A Ndukwenhle Physical Sciences teacher, Sipho Mkhwanazi, expressed happiness at Shell’s collaboration with the department, adding that he believes that it will yield the desired results.
“This is an opportunity we have always longed for. We have never had such an opportunity before. It makes us happy that there will be children who get to be educated through this funding.
“We wish for other stakeholders to also be a part of our growing school so children from lower grades can be encouraged,” he added.
A Ndukwenhle Matric learner, Sinenhlanhla Hadebe, said she hoped to get a bursary.
“Only my father is the breadwinner at home, therefore this bursary can change my life to go to university. My dream is to become a mechanical engineer and I can see that it will come true since I already have an offer,” she said.
Hlomuka wished all the learners success, adding that the province is counting on them to secure the top spot in the provincial rankings in the 2024 Senior Certificate results.
