BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – Members of Parliament have called for the increment of scholarship allocations for the 2024/25 financial year.
The issue of scholarships has proven to be a thorny one among the MPs, who felt it had to be increased. This was today during the 2023/24 annual performance debate for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in the House of Assembly.
What was a problem with the MPs who debated the performance of the Ministry was that almost half of Emaswati who applied for scholarships got them. It transpired that in the outgoing 2023/25 financial year, about 3 000 applicants were awarded scholarships yet about 6 000 had applied.
Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo pleaded with the Ministry to consider increasing the allocation so that even those in the rural areas could benefit.
Motshane MP Wilton Nkambule described the scholarships as a future of the youthful Emaswati, who were given an opportunity to get educated. It was his wish for all Emaswati to be afforded this opportunity.
Other MPs such as Bonginkosi Dlamini (Mhlambanyatsi), Shawnette Henwood (Shiselweni I), Tengetile Magagula (Hhohho Region), and Sicelo Jele (LaMgabhi) felt as if the issue of scholarships needed to be prioritised for all Emaswati students to benefit.
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg allocated E640 million for scholarships and no increment was done this year. This was revealed last week Monday when Rijkenberg delivered the Budget Speech. During the 2023/24 financial year, 1 000 scholarships were added and the allocation was increased from around E360 million to around E640 million.
Minister for Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, during the budget debate last week Thursday also acknowledged that scholarship allocations were not increased, but they would try to work with what they had as a Ministry.
