The stress of preliminary exams is currently weighing heavy on this year's matriculants, and soon the stress of sourcing funding for their higher education pursuits will kick in.
Many of South Africa's youth gain financial aid through bursary sponsors, allowing them to pursue qualifications in the careers of their choice. However, too many only begin the bursary hunt once they've entered their first year at a university or college.
There are plenty of bursaries available for students, but there is a lack of knowledge surrounding these opportunities, creating the gap between finishing matric but only applying for funding after joining their first year.
Social investment expert, Shamiso Chideme, says some companies or institutions offering funding for students can't always advertise online, as many don't have internet access through WIFI or data, so advertising "on the ground" by putting up posters and distributing them to schools is how they spread the word.
"It's targeting rural communities, so you have to make sure you're very intentional to make sure that people within rural communities who need access to bursaries are able to access them at a data-free, cost-free kind of approach," mentions Chideme.
The biggest access point for learners and bursary opportunities is through schools, as bursary funders are looking for entry-level students, who might consider entering the environment of tertiary education.
She continues, saying that high performers shouldn't be the only targets of higher education funding, as many have performed well enough to secure a bursary but don't know of the funding opportunities available.
"There are students who were not necessarily top of their class, but they've worked hard and they've passed just enough for them to be able to qualify into higher education institutions but they aren't able to tap into bursaries, and Nsfas' funding is very limited in the sense that not everybody can get it."
You could be an "early bird", as Chideme puts it, and are lucky enough to secure funding, but there are others without that same good fortune, due to the lack of knowledge and access to various bursaries on offer.
Funding is also available for those who are in enrolling in Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) colleges, with bursary funders specifically seeking out those learners with practical skills they'd like to nurture.
Having the knowledge of available bursaries for various fields better prepares learners for life after matric.
