_edited.png)
South Africa’s education system holds immense potential, yet too many young people find themselves excluded from the opportunities that should be within reach. Education is the foundation upon which individuals build their futures, and when access is denied at critical junctures, the ripple effect is profound. For education to be truly transformative, we must think beyond the linear progression of traditional pathways and instead build a system that actively includes those left behind.
GrowZA’s bursary programme takes a systemic approach to education access, recognizing two crucial moments where financial constraints act as roadblocks: the First Mile, which supports access to non-mainstream skilling opportunities for students who may not be able to enter traditional degree streams, and the Last Mile, which ensures that students on the brink of graduation are not stranded due to unpaid fees. This model is not just about funding; it is about ensuring that every student has the opportunity to start, develop, and complete their learning journey.
The First Mile: Expanding the Definition of Access
A great many young South Africans do not fit into the conventional mould of higher education, yet they possess drive, talent, and ambition. The prevailing narrative focuses on university entry, but the reality is that an increasing number of students seek alternative, industry-relevant skilling pathways that do not fit within the confines of a three- or four-year degree. These may include vocational training, technical skills programmes, and other non-traditional learning opportunities that are just as critical for our economy and social development.
However, financial exclusion remains a barrier. Many of these students find themselves unable to take the first step towards skills development due to funding constraints, lack of early-stage support, and structural inequities in how education is financed. GrowZA’s First Mile strategy is built to close this gap—offering funding and structured support to ensure that young people who are unable to access traditional institutions can still equip themselves with the skills they need to thrive. This is about expanding what we mean by education access—not simply slotting students into existing structures, but actively building new pathways for learning and success.
The Last Mile: Addressing Systemic Incompletion
At the other end of the journey, there exists a quiet crisis that has gone largely unaddressed: students marooned in the final stretch of their studies due to outstanding fees. These young people have already put in the work, passed the exams, and are ready to enter the workforce, yet they find themselves locked out of the system due to financial arrears. Without access to their degrees, they cannot secure formal employment, nor can they advance in their careers. The impact is devastating—not only for the individuals affected but for the economy as a whole, as skills and human capital are effectively wasted.
GrowZA’s Last Mile strategy intervenes at this crucial point, ensuring that students who have successfully completed their studies can access their qualifications and transition into meaningful employment. This approach is driven by a fundamental commitment to educational justice—ensuring that financial constraints do not erase years of hard work and ambition.
A Structural Shift in Bursary Thinking
The way we think about bursary support in South Africa must evolve. It is no longer enough to fund students at the beginning of their studies and assume they will be able to complete the journey alone. The barriers to completion are as urgent as the barriers to access, and if we fail to address both, we perpetuate a system that excludes the very people we claim to uplift.
By tackling both the First Mile and Last Mile, GrowZA’s bursary programme represents a shift towards a more holistic, impact-driven approach to education funding. This model is about ensuring continuity, equity, and access at every stage—not just for those who fit neatly into traditional pathways, but for every young person determined to build a better future.
The Underlying Development Theory
For the development nerds - GrowZA’s First Mile, Last Mile approach is rooted in Human Capital Theory, the Capability Approach, and Systems Thinking in Education.
These development theories provide a robust foundation for an education model that prioritizes both access and completion.
Human Capital Theory – Education is an investment in economic growth, where skills development directly contributes to productivity and employability. By ensuring access to alternative skills development pathways (First Mile) and preventing degree wastage (Last Mile), GrowZA enhances South Africa’s workforce readiness and social mobility.
Capability Approach (Amartya Sen & Martha Nussbaum) – More than just providing access to education, this approach emphasizes the real opportunities and agency individuals need to convert learning into meaningful life outcomes. The First Mile ensures that students can access vocational and technical education, while the Last Mile prevents financial exclusion from negating years of effort. This ensures that every learner has the freedom to develop and achieve their full potential.
Systems Thinking in Education – Recognizing that financial barriers at different stages of education require a holistic intervention, GrowZA approaches bursary support as a journey rather than a one-time intervention. The programme acknowledges that institutional access, economic factors, and labor market conditions interact in ways that shape student success. Addressing both the beginning and the completion stages of education ensures that fewer students fall through the cracks.
Education is not just about getting in—it is about getting through. It is about ensuring that every learner, regardless of background or financial status, has the opportunity to develop to their full potential.
In an era where the demand for skills is evolving rapidly, and where economic barriers still shape who succeeds and who does not, we must design bursary programmes that are responsive, inclusive, and geared towards long-term impact.
The First Mile gets them started; the Last Mile gets them through.
Contact Bursaries@growza.co.za to stay informed when funding cycles open.
Comments