MBABANE – Minister of Labour Phila Buthelezi has announced that Government will invest a further projected E241 million towards tertiary level scholarships in the current financial year, bringing the total projected spend for the year to E680 million. Minister Buthelezi was speaking during a press conference in Mbabane, according to Government’s official social media channels.
Minister Buthelezi revealed that for the 2022-2023 Pre-Service Tertiary Education and Training Loan Applicants, both for the SADC region and local institutions, a projected budget of E78 million has been allocated. Government has already spent over E300 million of the current budget allocation of E361 millions on scholarship grants in just this first quarter of the financial year ending 31 March 2023.
Minister Buthelezi noted that “A further expenditure of an additional E241 million to cater for ongoing scholarship awards is projected bringing the total to E680 million for this year. For 2022/23, 2550 new applicants for both local and SADC region study will be granted scholarships.”
He also emphasized that no further scholarships will be awarded beyond this figure and no appeals will be considered. Due to the budget constraints highlighted, applicants meeting the application criteria will be subjected to a means test/assessment for eligibility of scholarship grant.
Minister Buthelezi revealed that applicants will be required to appear before the Scholarship Selection Board together with their parents/guardian on dates to be communicated. The Ministry further informs the public that there will be no consideration of extension of scholarships of any nature that includes the following: PGCE and Uncompleted/pending modules.
“We wish to to reassure the public that the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini will continue to place the interests of emaSwati students at the centre of its focus and that, in spite of the challenges ahead, everything possible will be done to ensure that the economy of the Kingdom of Eswatini remains a going concern and caters for for them,” remarked Minister Buthelezi.
