The Department of Basic Education released the Overview of the Annual Performance Plan for 2022.
The department aims to award 11 800 Funza Lushaka bursaries per year to students enrolled for Initial Teacher Education.
“With Funza Lushaka bursars, Parliamentary Members queried whether the department could consider ensuring bursaries specific to Technical Mathematics, Science, Technology, Robotics, Coding Maritime etc,” read the report.
The Parliamentary members wondered whether the department could also prohibit bursars from changing their study subjects once admitted to Higher Education Institutions.
According to the Deputy Director-General of Basic Education, Mr S Padayachee, the department has acknowledged the occurrence of Funza Lushaka students changing their subjects and study path once accepted at Universities.
However, the department has been collaborating with Higher Education Institutions to ensure such changes only occur with the necessary approvals.
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, having considered Budget Vote 16: Basic Education, together with the Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Basic Education recommends that the Minister of Basic Education ensure the following:
“The Department of Basic Education, in collaboration with Institutions of Higher Learning, ensure critical subject bursaries are available to Funza Lushaka bursars – and prohibit bursars from changing their study subjects once admitted to Higher Education Institutions."
