There was joy when 67 learners in the Giyani area received bursaries from the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Blade Nzimande, during a Mandela Day Career Guidance Festival event that was held at the Letaba FET College in Giyani last weekend.

Nzimande said that his department was giving out bursaries to 67 pupils to honour former president Nelson Mandela, who had suffered and sacrificed 67 years of his life, doing it for the citizens of the country. He said offering the bursaries was an indication of Mandela’s commitment to education. “I want the learners to get information and advice on a spectrum of opportunities for higher learning and skills development to help them make their career choices,” he said.

Learners from various schools around the Giyani area received career guidance booklets from the minister during the event. Nzimand told learners to make use of any career opportunity available as “the high failure rate is caused by a lack of proper career guidance”.

Nzimande wished learners who are currently doing grade 12 all the best for their oncoming matric exams.

It was during the event that learners were provided with information on universities, colleges, course programmes, financial aid, bursary schemes and training opportunities.

The Minister of Public Administration, Mr Richard Baloyi, who was born in the Giyani area, said that learners had to work hard in order for them to qualify for bursaries.