Government Continues Bursary Support for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children

The government, through the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, is continuing its efforts to ensure that all children have access to education by providing bursaries to Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) at secondary and high school levels. This initiative was confirmed by Minister Pitso Lesaoana.

Applications for the bursary opened on January 2 at the Ministry’s district offices and local community councils, and will remain open until January 30, 2026. Minister Lesaoana highlighted that first-time applicants must be 24 years or younger and meet specific criteria, including being double or single orphans, needy, abandoned, living with disabilities, or having both parents but still considered vulnerable.

Applicants are required to submit several documents, including an application letter, certified copies of parents’ death certificates, a confirmation letter from the local chief, a certified birth certificate, identity documents of parents, and an admission letter from the school.

The bursary programme complements earlier initiatives, including the Basic Education Strengthening Project (BESP) introduced by the Ministry of Education and Training in February 2022. BESP aimed to reintegrate children who had dropped out of school, focusing on students already enrolled in the Child Grant Programme, particularly those in Grade 7, 8, and entering Grade 9. Although the programme concluded in March 2025, it played a significant role in improving student retention, supporting teaching quality, and assisting with the rollout of the new curriculum, especially in Early Childhood Development (ECD).

Key achievements of BESP included a reduction in dropout rates among vulnerable students and tuition fee top-ups, contributing to sustained access to education for children in need. The continuation of the OVC bursary programme reinforces the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable children and ensuring equitable educational opportunities across the country.