Small town teens dream big after receiving bursaries to Marlow High
After planting the seed and taking the time to nurture it through education, two high school pupils are finally starting to see it bloom after attaining full bursaries to attend Marlow Agricultural High School in Cradock.
Jeandre Plaatjies and Muhammed Davids, both 13, from Humansdorp and Patensie, respectively, are a step closer to realising their dream of a career in agriculture after being selected as the 2024 recipients of the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm agricultural bursary programme.
Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm economic development specialist Nonini Makhothe said the programme, launched in January 2021, provided financial support to promising young high school pupils interested in agriculture.
The two pupils, who started grade 8 last week, received a five-year all-inclusive bursary that covers tuition, accommodation and travel costs.
“Agriculture plays an important role in the economy of our country,” Makhothe said.
The initiative’s aim was to establish a skills pipeline and alleviate the shortage of agricultural skills in communities and the country through education.
“Providing support to these young people means our wind
farm is playing an active role in ensuring communities receive the right calibre of young people who will one day drive agriculture through innovative thinking.”
To qualify for the bursary, pupils were assessed on their academic performance, interest in agriculture, adaptability to the new school environment and sporting interests.
Jeandre’s mother, Bernadene, said the bursary would give her son an array of opportunities he may not have been exposed to.
“I believe the bursary opportunity
will assist my child to reach his full potential by providing financial support for his education, and allowing him to access resources and opportunities that may otherwise have been out of reach.
“He will also have networking opportunities and professional development support, helping him to build a strong foundation for future success,” she said.
Since its inception, the programme has supported five pupils from Humansdorp, Hankey, Patensie, Thornhill and Jeffreys Bay.
Makhothe said an evaluation of the initiative would be conducted at the end of 2024.
Marlow, or Hoër Landbouskool Marlow, was established on January 21 1931, on a 3,400ha farm about 10km outside Cradock, with about 250 pupils.
It has since grown in size and reputation as a prominent Afrikaans school with a strong sporting presence across several disciplines.
The school’s 2023 matric class attained a 96.4% pass rate, with 24 distinctions and a 65.5% bachelor’s pass rate.