The journey that started in The Cape Flats and in Ixopo in the KZN Province in April 2018 continued into Limpopo between May and June 2018.

The Faculty of Education was invited by the Limpopo Provincial Government’s Human Resources Development Director, Ms Susan Malima and the Manager of the Funza Lushaka Bursary in Limpopo, Mr Pitsi Maloba, to visit the province in giving the students who qualified in the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria access to study to become teachers in the Limpopo Province. The province works together with the Department of Basic Education Initial Teacher Development Directorate in these recruitment meetings. The province recruited teachers for the scarce skills subjects, together with Foundation Phase teachers for Sepedi and Xitsonga for the 2019 intake. The Department of Basic Education was represented by the Deputy Director for Initial Teacher Development, Mr Ben Lubisi and the Assistant Director, Mr Clive Bapela; the University of Venda was represented by Dr Muthambi and Dr Tshiove from the School of Teacher Education; the University of Limpopo (UL) was represented by Mr Masemola from the Funza Lushaka office at UL; and the University of Pretoria was represented by Dr Rakgadi Phatlane, Recruitment Manager, who visited 10 districts.

Dr Phatlane travelled 5 000 kilometres around the province. Her journey started in the Makhuduthamaga Municipality in the Sekhukhune, at the Peter Nchabeleng stadium and then continued to cover the following areas: Sekhukhune District Municipality at Jane Furse Comprehensive School, Mosebu Primary School in Rivercross, Tshabelang Dinoko Secondary School in the Drakensburg, Burgersfort, Mazwi a Nape and Photo Primary Schools, Helen Franz, Botlokwa in the Bochum Senwabarwana area, Moletji Moshate Hall, Mankgaile Primary School, Lebowakgomo Community Hall in the Capricorn District, Vhembe West District at Makhado Multi- Purpose Centre and at Muthuhadini Combined School, Vhembe East at Tshilidzini Secondary School and Malamulele Central Circuit Hall and Mopani District at Giyanai Science Centre and at Majenje in the BN Ntsanwisi Junior Primary School Hall. The roadshow ended in the Tzaneen area at Burgersdorp Senior Primary School Hall, with sessions completed at the Mokwakwaila Stadium Hall at gaModjadji, the Rain Queen’s area.

The participating universities recruit students who meet their admission criteria in their Teacher Training Programmes. The Department of Basic Education at national level together with the Department of Basic Education at province level then award these students the Funza Lushaka Bursary, or the bursary from the province.

The Faculty partnered with the Department of Basic Education to recruit students from destitute areas and allow them free access to the BEd Programme on merit. This is a strong partnership which goes a long way into bringing hope to the hopeless and to changing the status quo for the young people who are reached during this roadshow. It is answering the ‘Thuma Mina’ (Send Me) call by President Cyril Ramaphosa as the team is committed to restoring hope to the youth. Even those who do not qualify get back to school for the Second Chance Programme of the Minister of Basic Education to improve their Grade 12 results in order to qualify in the next round! The Funza Lushaka Bursary covers tuition, accommodation, food, book allowance and a monthly stipend. In this way, the Faculty not only provides access to the deserving students, but also takes part in poverty alleviation and the reduction of unemployment. By doing this the Faculty assists the country in creating youth who are economically active and responsible and teachers who are responsible SA citizens.