White River - The Mpumalanga Education Department is setting up a student liaison office for university students who benefit from the provincial government’s bursary programme.

MEC Reginah Mhaule made the announcement during a meeting with students who had challenges receiving their bursaries, resulting in some of them being evicted from their residences or denied meals.

“I would like to send out our sincere apology to you... I think communication between the government and the students has been the cause of this tragedy, but I promise that all fees will be settled with your institutions before June every year.

“My department, which has been given the mandate to oversee bursaries on behalf of the provincial government, will open a student liaison office which will be responsible for quarterly visits to students to deal with their challenges,” said Mhaule.

One of the students, Samkela Ndlovu, told the MEC that he did his final year in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Natal in 2010, but doesn't know his results because his bill for tuition, accommodation and meals was never settled.

“This has placed me in a difficult situation because I don’t know if I have to go back to study or not,” he said.

He said that while the bursary for his first and second years were paid, he had to organise a loan to pay for his third and fourth years but didn't have enough to settle the payment in full.

Some students also said they never received in-service training after completing their studies as agreed in their bursary contracts.

All those who had bursaries to study Information Technology (IT) were not given personal computers as promised.

Mhaule promised to deal with the issues urgently. “We will also try to strike partnerships with major companies like Eskom, Telkom, and mining to help us with placements or practical training of students who have completed their studies. We will also organise computers for the students who are doing IT,” Mhaule said. – SAnews.gov.za

Pretoria – The Gauteng Education Department has again urged all parents who are still seeking space in schools for 2013 to go to their nearest...

More South Africa Education ...

Johannesburg - The majority of schools in Gauteng opened smoothly on Wednesday, the provincial Department of Education says.According to the...

More South Africa Education ...

Mbombela - The Mpumalanga Education Department will deploy ward councillors and pastors to monitor the reopening of schools in the province this...

More South Africa Education ...

Polokwane - Impoverished students living around Polokwane, Limpopo, have three weeks to apply for bursaries from the local municipality.Polokwane...

More South Africa Education ...

Mbombela - Mpumalanga Education MEC Reginah Mhaule donned a pair of overalls to help clean, paint and renovate a rural school before pupils return...

More South Africa Education ...

Pretoria- Matric learners in Gauteng have achieved the highest pass rate for the 2012 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with 83.9% of...

More South Africa Education ...

Johannesburg - A total of 73.9% of the matriculants who sat for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in 2012 passed their exams."It...

More South Africa Education ...

Pretoria - The Department of Basic Education has welcomed the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training's...

More South Africa Education ...

Pretoria - Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has appointed University of KwaZulu-Natal Vice Chancellor Professor Malegapuru...

More South Africa Education ...