A MULTI-MILLION rand KZN bursary scheme to encourage greater participation in chartered accounting by black students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is under review.
The South African Institute of Chartered Accounts (Saica) is reviewing whether it will continue financing pupils entering the University of KwaZulu-Natal through the Thuthuka Bursary Fund Programme.
The bursary fund, which was introduced in 2005, is a skills development and transformation initiative of Saica and aims to encourage talented black and coloured South African pupils who excel in mathematics, to pursue a career in the chartered accountancy (CA) profession.
Saica project manager for transformation and growth in KwaZulu-Natal Xolela Sohuma said each year the province received about 700 Thuthuka beneficiaries.
“Not all of the students attend UKZN. It must be reaffirmed that UKZN’s Saica accreditation for its accounting courses are not being reviewed. It is after all the top university in Africa.
“What we are reviewing is whether Saica still needs to be funding students attending UKZN. This is a normal review process, which happens every four years. We will have a better idea on what road lies ahead by November,” said Sohuma.
He said part of the review would look at whether the University of KwaZulu-Natal has reached its transformation intake objectives.
“This bursary scheme is very expensive, which is also why we must review regularly. The funding comes predominantly from the accounting fraternity,” said Sohuma.
