The South African Institute of Charted Accountants (SAICA) has embarked on an awareness campaign about the institute in theFree State beginning this month.
This is in line with their transformation mandate to overhaul the profession to be representative of the demographics of the country, Teboho Mohajane, the project manager at SAICA in the Free State, ssid, “For us to be able to achieve our mandate we need to have a healthy pipeline of activities and learners who show interest in the profession.”
And, he added, that is the main reason he will be traveling to five district of the Free State, including Bethkehrm and QwaQwato kick start this year’s awareness campaign.
“The purpose is to create awareness about the accounting profession and to make learners aware of the Thuthuka Bursary scheme that funds learners in quintiles 1 to3 schools in the mainly black and coloured communities.”
Mohajane said SAICA has realized over the years that black and coloured learners didn’t join the profession in reasonable numbers. “It was not because they didn’t have the ability,” he pointed out, “but rather they didn’t have information about SAICA and what the requirements are to qualify for the bursary. For instance,to be a CA learners must have pure mathematics at a minimum of level 5, English at level 5 too and aminimum APS 34 and above. And for Learners to qualify for the bursary SAICA looks at two aspects, the financial needs of the learner as well as the academic excellence.”
Another aspect to consider is thatlearners’ parents should not be earning more than R350 000 per annum. The Thuthuka Bursary fund covers tuition for four years of study that includes books, accommodation and meals (breakfast, lunch and supper). Learners also receive a monthly allowance as well as a laptop.
“Over and above that we have what we call wrap around support, meaning should a learner have any challenges with a module we offer extra tutorials.” And, Mohajane went on, in the event that there is bereavement in the familyof thelearner we will arrange counseling. Further counselling is also offered for any other mental illnesses like anxiety or depression.”
SAICA considers it critical to ensure that learners do not just start their journey but that they get to complete their studies successfully. Once they have completed their studies “SAICA encourages the Thuthuka ‘babies’ to pay it forward by getting involved in a number of our school initiatives like the Maths Development Camp over the winter school holidays as well as the business games.”
He explained that SAICA’s mission is to build a community of responsible citizens that understand the power of giving back from second year studies at tertiary level.
