By Thokozani Mazibuko
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Makhosini Mndawe that the ministry needs over E3 billion to establish the new scholarship fund.
Addressing the Public Accounts Committee led by Deputy Chairperson, Manzi Zwane, the PS pointed it out that the scholarship fund will make it possible for all the over 15 000 high school graduates on a yearly basis.
“Chairperson, the ministry has been for all these years turning down over 11500 scholarship applications from high school graduates as the government was only able to cater for only 3500 of them.
With this new scholarship fund, that would be a thing of the past as if not all, but quite many students will be accommodated,” PS Mndawe told the PAC.
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The PS disclosed to the PAC that if they government could be able to make this E3 billion in future budgets, it would see students getting tertiary tuition loans from quite a few banks which the ministry was already engaging in partnerships towards the establishing of this scholarship fund.
“We as a ministry, we are not happy to be in this position whereby we end up being blamed by the parents in the scholarship issue.
It was a pity that this E3 billion was not catered for in the current budget, but I would like to assure this committee that this fund’s implementation could resolve a lot of issues,” said the PS.
The PS pointed out that with the partnership of banks in this new fund to be established, the Government would cut down costs such as the money paid to the scholarship recovery consultant.
“Banks would make it easier for the Government to run the whole process of issuing scholarships and at the end of the day, benefit the children of emaSwati in the long run,” further clarified the PS, yesterday.
It should be noted that tertiary education is a key requirement for securing employment or self-employment.
The Government of Swaziland, in pursuit of equity in the use of resources in the education sector and the development of the Swaziland economy.
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continues to provide scholarship loans to students wishing to undertake tertiary education studies in recognized tertiary institutions in Swaziland and as well other African Universities and overseas countries ( mainly through Joint Bilateral Agreements with various countries).
It is also worth mentioning that the demand for Government scholarship loans has increased rapidly over the years. far exceeding the funds available for scholarships.
This has put a strain on Government resources consequently resulting in the need for Government to target priority areas more carefully for the award of scholarships to students.
