EFF statement on unemployed graduates

22 September 2023

The Economic Freedom Fighters in Mpumalanga condemns the Department of Education for failing to employ graduates who possess education qualifications given that they were non-government bursary holders.

Several teaching graduates have been unemployed for years, while job opportunities are only granted those who were Fundza Lushaka bursary holders. Information at our disposal suggests that some schools within the province have a shortage of staff but the provincial department does not advertise the posts due to the fact that they only want to place those who are registered on their database as government bursary recipients.

It is common knowledge that it is difficult to secure a teaching job in Mpumalanga when one was a self-funded student or when one was funded by NSFAS during their studies because the Mpumalanga provincial government prioritizes graduates that were funded by the Mpumalanga Bursary program including those who were funded by Fundza Lushaka.

The provincial govemment strategy is bias and contributes to the high unemployment rate within the province.

As such, the Economic Freedom Fighters calls for the Department of Education to prioritize graduates from the Mpumalanga community when it comes to the placement of educators.

The EFF also calls for the Mpumalanga Premier, Refilwe Mtshweni Tsipane to intervene immediately and ensure that NSFAS recipients and self-funded unemployed graduates receive equal opportunities with their Fundza Lushaka counter-parts.

Issued by Onesipho Songelwa, Communications Officer, EFF Mpumalanga, 22 September 2023