UL receives R32,4 million to train accountants

A total of 308 Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) and Bridging Certificate in Theory of Accountancy (BCTA) students at University of Limpopo (UL) will benefit from R32,4 million in bursaries for the 2018 academic year funded by the National Skills Fund (NSF).
According to a statement released by UL on Monday, the university has entered into a long-standing partnership with NSF in 2012 to support the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) programmes at UL.
“In 2012, NSF made a generous investment of R24,9 million by sponsoring 456 students, 415 students shared R29,3 million in 2013 while 318 students were sponsored with R26,2 million in 2014 as well as R19 million for 115 students in 2015,” the statement read.
Blessy Sekome, acting Director of the School of Accountancy at UL reportedly said some of the funding was allocated for annual work readiness programmes offered to final year students, hiring of expert staff and academic trainees among other things. “This is the essential resource to enable the school to meet the required standards by Saica in producing competent students with relevant skills for the market place.” Sekome said it was one of the key drivers of increased student intake in accountancy programmes. “This allows the school to continue training the province’s aspiring chartered accountants with ease,” Sekome said.
Deputy Director of Bursary Initiation and Evaluation at NSF, Nyiko Hlekane, reportedly said the funding to UL is earmarked for increasing the number of black charted accountants from rural areas. “Since 2012, we have donated funds to UL because we want to train professional charted accountants and break the cycle of learners from Limpopo travelling long distances to other provinces to enrol at accredited universities.”

Story: Herbert Rachuene
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