Excitement as SU surprises Mitchells Plain learners with bursaries
September 28, 2011 
15 Comments
“It still hasn’t really sunk in yet, but for now I’m excited and happy and I feel privileged to have received this bursary from Stellenbosch University and to have been part of this programme.”
Prof Botman and some of the lucky learners.
This was the reaction of Jason Biel, one of 14 learners from the Mitchells Plain area who participated in a tutelage programme presented by Stellenbosch University (SU) and who were surprised with bursaries at a special function held at the Devon Valley Hotel on Tuesday (27 September).
Biel, from Oval North High School, plans on studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering at SU next year.
The bursaries are worth R32 000 each and will cover the prospective students’ tuition costs. They are also offered a place in residence at the university.
Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said that the learners are an inspiration to him. “My generation created the hole in the ozone layer, your generation must fix it,” he said.
Dr Trevor van Louw
The University’s Centre for Educational Leadership and Management (CELEMUS) and the Centre for Prospective Students (CPS) joined forces to provide the tutelage programme for the learners from nine schools in the Mitchells Plain area. “The idea of this programme is to establish a pipeline that runs from the school and into the university,” Dr Trevor van Louw, co-founder of the programme and Director of CELEMUS, said at the function.
Adeptly named Maties on the Plain, the programme spans 20 Saturdays from April till October this year and is hosted at Spine Road High School in Mitchell’s Plain. Students are tutored in core subjects such as Mathematics and Mathematics Literacy, Life and Physical Science, English and Afrikaans; and Accounting by educators handpicked by CELEMUS.
Learners were selected for the programme based on academic achievement in their Grade 11 examination and an interest in courses offered by SU. The learners also attended a winter school at the Stellenbosch campus where they were exposed to campus life.
According to Dr Van Louw, traditionally many of the top-academic Grade 12 students within this area further their studies at other institutions of higher education. “Through the tutelage programme we were not only able to address a real need in the community; we were also able to present the learners an opportunity to consider Stellenbosch University for their studies.”
In 2012, the programme will be open to learners from, among others, Aloe Secondary, Beacon Hill High, Cedar High, Glendale High, Lentegeur High, Mondale High, Oval North High, Portland High, Princeton High, Rocklands High, Spine Road High, Tafelsig High and Woodlands High and will also be extended to schools in areas such as Lower Crossroads, Khayelitsha and Philippi.
Dumisani Mahlangu on Twitter (@Dumirocks): I can only hope like a Hope_Project that those kids will be supported right through their final year!
I received a similar bursary from Stellenbosch University back in the days when it was still the University of Stellenbosch. That great gift/oppurtunity set me on a path towards a better, brighter and more engaged future. It warms my heart to see that others have been and still are afforded the same opportunity. I am and always will be a proud MATIE.
Good for the community and inspiring to the pupils or learners. KEEP OUR HOPE PROJECT ALIVE!!!! Viva Stellenbosch University
Inspirerend!
Wow Dit maak my immers so bly om nog een van my voormalige skool se studente hier te gaan he !!!
As ‘n Matie alumni en Mitchell’s Plain inwoner maak dit my so trots om te weet dat daar terug geploeg word in die jeug van Mitchells Plain.Daar is soveel potensiaal in Mitchells plain en hierdie geleentheid maak soveel deure oop!
Ek was ook een van die gelukkiges om in my matriekjaar ‘n hulpende hand te kry van die US en dit was die begin van my loopbaan. Wel gedaan US en M/Plain leerders!!!
The management of the US must really be commended for this practical effort to reach out to the disadvantaged students. This is a fantastic initiative for the following reasons:
1. intervention is early and not too late
2. financial aid is critical
3. hostel accommodation is critical
4. good students can be identified early
5. the goodwill towards US in Mitchells Plain will be invaluable.
So well done to US and keep doing the walk instead of only doing the talk.
Bly om te hoor dat daar meer van my landsgenote hiernatoe kom!
Dus regtig gr8 om te hoor dat daar `n projek buite ons kampus plaasvind veral in Mitchells Plain.Baie min leerlinge weet dat daar iets soos beursie en geleenthede is. Go Rocklands High 2012 (:
Knapgedaan US! Hierdie beurse vir leerders uit Mitchell’s Plain – waar ek grootgeword het & baie van my familie woon – is ‘n riem onder die hart vir my. Na ek by Maties geswot het & reeds vir 5-jaar by die Bestuurskool werksamig is, is ek baie opgewonde dat ‘n helpende hand uitgesteek word na my mense. Daar is soveel leerders met hope talent wat smag na sulke geleenthede. Dankie vir almal wat betrokke is en selfs vir die uitbreiding van die projek.
Clayton
Absolutely Lovely.Hopefully with much success this could reach out to High School in other Cape Flat’s areas such as Athlone, Belhar etc.
Die Universiteit sal nooit sy diversiteitsdoelwitte bereik deur net in die Stellenbosch omgewing hoop te bring nie. Dit is ook ons verantwoordelikheid om hoop na gemeenskappe buite die Stellenbosch omgewing te bring. Ons moet verhoudings bou in gemeenskappe wat nie tradisioneel die US sou oorweeg om verder te studeer nie!
“Maties Oppie Plein” is een fantastiese projek! Die Stellenbosch skole is die topvoeder skole van die Universiteit en daar word jaarliks intensief gewerf in die omgewing,bv. Kayamandi het talle projekte waar beide universiteitspersoneel en studente aktief betrokke is met ondersteuning en werwing. Die Stellenbosch skole word bereik dmv skoolbesoeke, fakulteitsuitreike, loopbaanuitstallings, die Opedag, vakkeuse projekte en daar word jaarliks beurse aan leerders in die omgewing toegeken. “Maties Oppie Plein” het die US die geleentheid gebied om verhouding met skole te bou wie nie tradisioneel die Universiteit as eerste keuse sien nie. Kontak my gerus direk vir meer inligting rakende werwingsaksies by bfan@sun.ac.za
Ek het dieselfde vraag, maar ek besef ook dat die samewerking en toewyding van die betrokke skole ‘n deurslaggewende faktor is. Doen ons skole en leerders hier in Stellenbosch net nie genoeg moeite nie? Indien wel, sal ons skoolhoofde, onderwysers én leerders aangespreek moet word. Of doen die US nie meer die moeite om by ons eie skole uit te kom nie?
hoe kom buite stellenbosch wat van ons skole hier by ons