The department takes this time to urge all deserving learners who intend to study full time at any South African University to apply for a bursary before 30 September 2014.

Preference will be given to those who intend to pursue fields of study as listed in the critical skills list of the Provincial Human Resource Development Strategy, e.g. civil engineering, medicine, accounting & financial management, education with majors in maths and science, indigenous languages particularly Siswati and Isindebele, human movement sciences, etc.

Bursary application forms have been dispatched to secondary schools through our line function and adverts have already been placed in different media platforms, including the departmental website to sensitise learners and parents to apply on time.

“Our wish is that learners should take advantage of this opportunity to benefit from the resources that government is availing. At the same time this opportunity needs to motivate learners and students to study hard because they know that financial burdens will no longer be a hindrance towards their studies/

I wish to encourage the girls in particular to do everything possible in order to benefit from the bursaries and to further their education” said MEC Mhaule.

Learners living with disabilities who passed grade 12 and have been admitted in institutions of higher learning will be given first preference when these bursaries are awarded.

To qualify for the bursary scheme, the applicant must complete a bursary application form and attach the following:

• Certified copy of grade 12 mid-year results (if currently in Grade 12) or Final Grade 12 certificate (for those who have already completed Grade 12) or NCV Level 4 or N6 or the academic record for those already at University
• Certified copy of proof of residence in the Mpumalanga Province
• A letter/provisional letter of acceptance or proof of registration from a higher education institution.  Under no circumstances will an application be considered without a letter/provisional letter of acceptance or proof of registration from the higher education institution
• Certified copy of  a South African identity document/card
• Proof of income of parent or guardian
• Proof of disability from a registered medical doctor or clinic/ hospital (if applicable).

Adjudication will be completed by the end of February 2015 and confirmation letters to students will be finalised in the second week of March 2015.

Completed applications can either be:

• Hand delivered to the Provincial Department of Education Office located at Riverside Government Complex building number 5 upper ground floor; or
• Posted to the following address – The Bursary Unit, Department of Education, Private Bag X 11341, Nelspruit, 1200.

For general inquiries the following officials are request members of our communities to contact the department at busaries@education.mpu.gov.za or alternatively to contact the following officials telephonically:

• Ms Thabile Nkhoma - 013 766 5399
• Mr Jerry Motha - 013 766 5405
• Mr Zondi Hlengiwe - 013 766 5370
• Ms Lillian Magagula - 013 766 5515
• Ms Sbongile Sgauka - 013 766 5351
• Ms Phindile Sithole – 013 766 5421
• Ms Matubane Ranta - 013 766 5077