DURBAN - Zululand District Municipality has forked out more than R1.2 million in cash to honour the district’s top-performing matriculants and their schools.
In the mayoral bursary and excellence awards ceremony held at James Nxumalo High School in Ulundi on Tuesday, mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi handed 100 pupils, already in different universities, R10 000 each, while 25 schools that achieved a 100% pass rate also each received R10 000.
Speaking at the event, the mayor said his municipality was happy with the performance of the matrics of 2021, having achieved an increased pass rate of 78.2% from 76.7%.
These results prompted Buthelezi to reward the pupils and schools because they were achieved under difficult circumstances, including Covid-19.
The mayor said the district not only increased its pass rate percentage, but bachelor passes rose from 4 884 to 6 545 as well. The number of schools that achieved 100% passes also increased from 14 to 25.
The mayor announced that in partnership with telecommunications company MTN, 100 schools would receive free data to enable pupils to work without problems.
“With these awards, which we will do every year, we want to say thank you for raising our district flag as one that worked hard and increased the pass rate.
“I asked principals to bring this year’s matric pupils so they see us giving those who did well their R10 000, so that they, too, will know if they work hard they will receive the same amount next year. We understand that you are the generation of data, so we have partnered with MTN to connect 100 schools,” said the mayor.
Sibongile Makhathini, who received money on behalf of her child, who had already been accepted to do medicine at the University of Cape Town, thanked the mayor and the municipality for the bursary.
Municipal spokesperson Zanele Mthethwa said criteria used to select bursary recipients was that they must come from poor families and the application be accompanied by social grant receipts, as well as proof of address by the ward councillor, and a proof of acceptance letter from the university.
Daily News