After completing their Masters degrees in the UK, two South Africans have returned home to contribute to the education sector. Cebo Mayekiso and Nokuthula Mashiyane were among the Chevening Scholarship recipients in 2019/2020 went to go study in the United Kingdom.
Chevening is a global scholarship programme, awarded to recipients to study towards a one-year master’s degree of their choice at any public university in the UK. As part of the two countries’ bilateral agreement, Chevening awards scholarships to South Africans every year. The beneficiaries must have a plan to contribute to development in their home country upon completing their studies.
Mayekiso, completed his Masters in Business Administration at the University of Warwick.He is involved in several social development initiatives focusing on youth development and is currently useing education as a tool to empower individuals from socially marginalised communities.
“We aim to understand the varied needs of the developing child and use a network of partners to create programmes to aid this development.We provide various services, from basic tuition in digital analytical skills and basic coding, to financial management courses and mentoring,” explained Mayekiso.
Mashiyane obtained a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from the University of East Anglia. On her return to South Africa, she joined OLICO Maths Education.“OLICO offers a sense-making and confidence-building approach that makes maths accessible and meaningful to South African school children. This is done through the provision of high-quality tutoring and maths resources,” said Mashiyane.
She has always wanted to contribute to education solutions, make maths more accessible and engage in education research that is in touch with communities’ realities.
The two scholars encourage South Africans to grab Chevening Scholarship opportunities. “Chevening will give you a unique global learning experience. It expanded my education knowledge and gave me access to the world,” said Mashiyane. Agreeing with Mashiyane’s sentiments,Mayekiso said “Chevening has unlocked newfound confidence in me as a result of the new skills and capabilities I obtained and enhanced during my time abroad”.
