Huge boost for student funding at University of Limpopo

At a time when access to tuition fees are a major headache for students and management at institutions of higher learning the University of Limpopo (UL) last Wednesday received a major boost in the form of a R5 million donation from Absa’s Barclays Africa’s CEO Scholarship Programme.
The scholarship is additional to an earlier
R1,5 million allocated by the banking giant towards the 2016 tuition fees of 45 poor but academically deserving students across various fields of study. The bank’s contribution for this year is set to reach more students who are in need of financial aid for their 2017 tuition.
Barclays Africa’s CEO Scholarship Programme was launched by Absa last year and disbursed R80 million to support 2 000 university students across Africa that would have been financially excluded from receiving tertiary education in 2016.
According to Oscar Siziba, Absa Managing Executive – Northern Region, the banking group could not sit back and watch doors of learning shut in the faces of destitute South Africans. “When it comes to education, Absa understands that it has a critical role to play, not only to increase access to higher education but quality education. Funding challenge is not a governmental problem only, but societal. Through the scholarship, we hope to drive the economy forward. This is not a short-term funding. Absa will keep on coming to UL with more projects. We hope this funding will go a long way towards educating students in Limpopo so that they stand, not as a symbol of our past, but as the hallmark of the future,” Siziba said in a statement.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UL, Mahlo Mokgalong was quoted to have said that the student funding challenge cannot be addressed by the government alone, it needs private sector entities, such as Absa, to assist. “The scholarship will go a long way in bringing about progress and stability in the country. UL admits students from disadvantaged backgrounds and having a partner like Absa coming on board is much appreciated. Let us join hands in assisting these young minds who would not have had an opportunity to pursue higher education if it were not for this generosity,” Mokgalong reportedly said.
One of the 2016 beneficiaries, Karabo Tshoane, a third year BA Media Studies student, reportedly said he could have been at home if it weren’t for the scholarship. “It is not easy to register as a student without funding. Absa has taken the funding burden away from me and gave me an opportunity to further my studies. The bursary covers my tuition, accommodation and meals, and this motivates me to work hard. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity,” Tshoane said.
Asked how many beneficiaries will benefit from money in a year acting Senior Publications Practitioner at UL, Johannes Selepe said they had not decided on a figure yet.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za