MAKHADO - Learners from different secondary schools in the jurisdiction of the Makhado Municipality, teachers, circuit managers and community members witnessed the launching of a R300 000 bursary scheme at the Makhado Showgrounds last Friday.

The twenty best learners will benefit from the bursary scheme and the bursary is aimed at promoting interest in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology.

The Soutpansberg area circuit manager, Mr J G Ramuedzisi, said that the Department of Education appreciates the municipality's initiative. "We realised that leaders need to uplift the community and need the involvement of other corporate companies or departments," he said. "Everybody has a basic right to education and it is not a favour or privilege, but a responsibility. The department is responsible for teaching everybody."

Ramuedzisi further indicated that the bursary would help and boost learners when they sit for their final exam. Cllr Rhulani Nkuzana, the Mayor of Makhado Municipality, said that the municipality remains committed to make sure that education is free, compulsory, universal and equal for all children.

"The objectives of the government is to make sure that education is indeed free and equal for all children. The main aim of education must be understood to be to teach. The youth must love their people and honour human brotherhood, liberty, and peace, as well as empower them," he said.

The municipality set aside an amount of R300 000 in order to assist needy learners who are faced with the prospects of abandoning their studies, due to financial constraints. "This is to make sure that only those learners who are faced with financial problem and meet the requirements are assisted," said the mayor. The municipality has decided to play a role in the field of education to benefit the youth.

The bursary scheme will available elsewhere. It is important to inform members of the community that those who will be successful will not be required to repay the money, which clearly indicates the commitment to assist learners.

The municipality appointed a team of experts and academics who will adjudicate and award the bursaries to the successful learners. The adjucators are Soutpansberg circuit manager, Mr J G Ramuedzisi, Dr M Mangayi (convenor), Soutpansberg North Circuit Manager Mr T Tshindane, Mr Nelson Netshisaulu from PEU and Mr George Mathivha from SADTU.