Due to budget cuts, the Department of Basic Education has slashed the number of bursaries it will be awarding to student teachers in this financial year, which ends in March 2025, by 2 300 - from 12 000 to 9 700. According to the department's annual performance plan, funding for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme will be reduced by R397.9 million over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) because of Cabinet-approved reductions. The scheme provides financial assistance to students registered for the Bachelor of Education (B Ed) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) who are specialising in priority subject areas, such as inclusive education, maths, coding, robotics, and science and technology. The scheme, which has been allocated R4 billion over the MTEF, is aimed at addressing critical educator shortages in scarce skills areas. According to the document, the target for the number of bursaries on offer for the following two financial years, 2025/26 and 2026/27, is 10 000 and 10 300 respectively.          Professor at the School of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Labby Ramrathan joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.