WCape government, Nedbank award 15 bursaries to students

The Western Cape provincial treasury and the education department in partnership with the provinces’ official banking partner Nedbank awarded bursaries to 15 senior grade school pupils at the Nedbank essay bursary competition awards evening in Cape Town on Saturday, the Western Cape government said.

The Nedbank essay bursary competition for grade 11 pupils started in 2008 and had since its inception provided bursaries worth nearly R3.4 million. Any Western Cape grade 11 pupil planing to pursue a career in maths, economics, and accounting could enter this competition, it said in a statement on Sunday.

The competition was part of the grade 11 curriculum for the 10,000 pupils studying economics and accounting. From all these essays, 52 were selected as final entries into the competition of which 26 were shortlisted. From the shortlisted pupils, 15 each won a study bursary to pursue a three year degree/diploma in the fields of economics, finance, mathematics, accountancy, and/or commerce, at one of the universities in the Western Cape.

“The Western Cape government’s priority is to build a better tomorrow for our youth. The Western Cape government’s rescue mission focuses on skills for jobs and economic growth that creates jobs,” finance MEC Ivan Meyer said in the statement.

“As announced in my budget address the province will allocate R193.3 million over the 2017 MTEF [medium-term expenditure framework] for skills development and innovation. The bursaries we are awarding… is our tangible commitment to ensuring that talented young men and women will be supported, developed, and groomed to take up key positions within the public sector finance environment,” Meyer said.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is that fewer and fewer learners in our schools are choosing important subjects such as maths, accounting, and economics as we have a real shortage of learners leaving school with a quality NSC [national senior certificate] qualification especially in these subjects. We must align our education with the skills gaps that exist,” education MEC Debbie Schäfer said.

“The Nedbank essay bursary competition is about honouring some of our country’s finest minds and seeing how the gift of words scribe South Africa’s socio-economic future,” Nedbank divisional executive for client coverage Andre Geldenhuys said.

“As an economic enabler, Nedbank is honoured, humbled, and encouraged by the passion we have seen from these upcoming business leaders. At the core of Nedbank’s existence is our commitment to the communities and environment we serve and as such our involvement in this initiative, partnering with the youth on their journey to realise their dreams, continues to demonstrate this commitment,” Geldenhuys said.

The first place winner Juané Cronje hailed from DF Malan High School. Loumari Müller from Point High School was the second place winner, while Masande Jack from Masibambane High School was the third place winner.

Besides the bursary as a prize, cash prizes were also awarded with the first place winner receiving R10,000, the second place winner R8000, and the third place winner R6500. The rest of the top 15 winners each received R2500.

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.