Students from Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Mowbray campus have marched to the Department of Basic Education’s offices in protest of the sudden cut to their Funza Lushaka bursary funds, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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According to IOL, the students say they’re frustrated by the DBE’s delay in explaining why their contracted bursary funds were slashed by nearly R20 000.
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Students are concerned about having to repay mounting balances on their accounts, as the DBE teaching bursary—covering accommodation, travel, living expenses, books, and teaching practice—has been crucial to their education.
‘With this money, we could comfortably pay for our books, tuition, teaching practice and stationery. You usually apply and by May you get an approval. In June you sign the contracts and by end June/July you receive the money,’ a third-year student said.
By the end of July, students had not been paid and began inquiring.
They were later informed that the DBE would no longer cover accommodation, travel, or living expenses for those in residence.
‘All we were told is that there would be a budget cut; they didn’t give us a breakdown.’
‘We’ve been asking the university and the DBE but no one has answers. I mean, we’d understand if it was mentioned in the contract, but it wasn’t.’
‘They had eight months to communicate with us since the beginning of this process but they didn’t; they still gave us our contracts and watched us sign while they knew this.’
‘Then again, we don’t know who to believe, because we are being left in the dark.’
A final-year teaching student emphasised they want to avoid disruption before exams.
They said the march is to deliver a memorandum due to lack of communication, and while a partial bursary payment was received on August 8, many now face over R20,000 in debt.
In their memorandum, students are seeking clarity and a resolution.
They marched from the campus to the DBE’s office at 10:30 am today to deliver it.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the finance department is discussing proposed changes to fund disbursement criteria with NSFAS, the DBE, and Funza Lushaka bursary administrators.
Kansley said new criteria for funding, affecting education students across various universities, has caused anxiety.
She urged students to stay calm and assured them that updates will be provided as discussions progress.
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Picture: Jacques Stander / Gallo