Eastern Cape Educacation Bursary

By: Asemahle Jiba

The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) yesterday officially launched the 2025 Bursary Advocacy Campaign at Wesley Church in Bizana, Alfred Nzo East Education District. The campaign aims at encouraging young people to consider teaching as their first choice when applying to Universities.

The initiative also seeks to increase awareness about applying for bursaries available to prospective educators in critical subjects. It forms part of the Department’s broader strategy to transform the education system and address the shortage of qualified teachers in public schools across the Province.

Luvuyo Mgijima who is the Assistant Director for Human Resource Development emphasized the strategic importance of the campaign saying that in addressing the anticipated shortage of educators in critical learning areas.” The Bursary Advocacy Campaign is being rolled out as a strategic intervention to attract new students in Bachelor of Education programmes particularly in subjects we have identified as high priority” said Mgijima.

He also highlighted that through this campaign, the Department is placing a strong emphasis on Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Afrikaans, Inclusive Education and Foundation Phase teaching. “In partnership with various Higher Education Institutions and through bursary schemes such as Matthew Goniwe and Funza Lushaka, the campaign targets to reach all twelve (12) districts of the Province to raise awareness and encourage more young people to consider teaching as a noble and necessary profession” added Mgijima.

The launch of the campaign drew a large turnout of learners and unemployed youth from the Alfred Nzo East area, many of whom were eager to gain information that could shape their future.

Mzingisi Mdweshu who is a Grade 12 learner at A.D. Tshayingca Senior Secondary School expressed his gratitude to the Department by thanking the Department for bringing the se opportunities in rural areas. “We do not always have easy access to information in rural areas and always learn about these opportunities when they have already passed so this is definitely something that we don’t see everyday in our areas” said Mdweshu. He added that he is going to grab the opportunity with both hands and apply for the bursary because teaching has always been his dream and his passion especially the IsiXhosa language which he hopes to one day teach with University of Fort Hare being his most preferred institution of studying.

Another attendee, Mongi Phikwa who matriculated in 2023 with Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Geography as her major subjects also appreciated the campaign. “After completing my matric in 2023, I have been applying to universities without much success mainly because of a lack of information and guidance. I am truly grateful for this opportunity because today I was able to apply at Walter Sisulu University,” said Phikwa.
She said that this will now mean she must just wait for the bursary applications to open so that she can also apply, as she meets all the minimum requirements.

Also in attendance was Nomhle Siwisa who is a parent who went to here what the Department had in store for her children. Siwisa commended the Department’s efforts of empowering the youth saying that as the parents they grateful and seeing the efforts that the Department is making in supporting the youth.